July 21, 2016

1 Peter 2:11 NKJV - "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul."

Commentary:

Where you consider your home to be will have a direct bearing on how you live.  That may not seem to be overly profound but consider our Daily Verse.  If this world is your home then you're likely to live like the world lives.  And that doesn't necessarily have to only mean you'll sin like everyone else.  You may live "decent" lives amongst your neighbors, being generally honest in your dealings, and working hard to make a living.  Yes, this verse speaks of "fleshly lusts" and you know that a person of the world may engage in "fleshly" activities.  But living as if this world is your home does not help you, as a Christian, to be living as you should.

Peter speaks of our being "sojourners and pilgrims" in this world.  That hardly speaks of someone who is "settled" on this earth.  Sure, we all have a place called "home" but do we understand it to be only temporary?  For if you see yourself as a "pilgrim" you get a different perspective as to how you live.  You don't act like the world around you because you're really not part of this world.   A few verses come to mind:

John 17:16 - "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world."

Romans 12:2 - "And do not be conformed to this world..."

Hebrews 11:13 - "These all died in faith...and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."

Are you a "stranger" here?  Peter is not talking about the people around you.  He's talking about the values and beliefs many of these people adhere to.  This world is not my home.  I'll take this a step further in tomorrow's Daily Verse and point out just where "Home" for the believer really is.