Keep on keeping on

In the midst of our efforts to live a spiritual life with God, “stuff” comes against us. Often Christians refer to these things as battles and according to Peter, the fight is real.

“Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul” (1 Peter 2:11).

David’s prayer makes sense when we read it along with Peter’s words in these verses.¹

“Hear my prayer, Lord,

listen to my cry for help;

be not deaf to my weeping.

For I dwell with you as a foreigner,

a stranger, as all my ancestors were” (Psalm 39:12).

Peter gave his readers a call to action: keep yourself from sinful or worldly desires.

• These desires may be strong, and they are also imperfect,² the opposite of holy in every way.
• The words “foreigners” and “exiles” used together shed light on our journey through life with God.
• It’s a spiritual journey, and earth is only a temporary dwelling.
• We are settled briefly in this current place, living next to “native” people—other humans.
• Paul described it this way:

“…many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:18-20).

• Our sinful nature fights against right principles and moral precepts.³
• It’s no wonder there’s a war.
• The carnal nature inhabits the same body as our spiritual and immortal nature, along with rational mental abilities and natural emotions.
• We live here on earth as a stranger when we were created for heaven.⁴
• Paul’s explanation to the Philippians gives us hope.

“And we eagerly await a Savior from there [heaven], the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power than enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body” (Philippians 3:20-21).

• Through Christ, we’re on the winning side of this war.

*What does it mean to you to live on Earth as foreigners and exiles?

*How can we make the most of our spiritual journey through this life? 

In addition, we struggle in battle against another type of enemy. Our foes might include doubt, negative thoughts, anger, uncertainty, fear, pride, and other things that encompass the devil’s schemes or aspects of our fallen, broken world. God guides us to interact with different kinds of enemies (people or physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual issues) in various ways: forgiveness, acceptance, avoidance, confrontation, engagement. When we face such enemies or attitudes, it’s easy to take our eyes off God and His plans and purposes for us. Throughout history, God calls His people to wage war against anything which keeps us from God.

*What foes do you face?

*How can we fight the enemies that wage war against our soul?

Therefore—because we know we are the victors–

“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us” (1 Peter 2:12).

• “Good deeds” are not required for faith and life with Jesus.
• However, a “good life” speaks volumes to those around us.
• It’s not only how we behave, which is more temporary, but also our conduct, which is a more lasting record of our actions.
• It’s our whole life, reflected in honesty and conscientious thoughts, feelings, and actions.⁵
• Our lives are to contrast with the pagans, or people who act in evil ways.⁶
• They may accuse us of doing wrong, even though we do good, virtuous things.
• The intent is they will not only see what we do, but contemplate it.⁷
• The reason? Paul told his readers exactly what to expect.

“…God exalted Him [Jesus Christ] to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

• They won’t have a choice.
• We play a role in bringing God’s plan to pass.
• As unbelievers see our honest attempts to live life with God, when Jesus is fully revealed (1 Peter 1:7), they will give glory to God, which means praise, worship, and adore Him.⁸
• The day Jesus returns will be a specific point in time.⁹
• On that day, when God “visits us,” He will be present to favor us.”¹⁰

 

*How can we act in good, virtuous ways when others accuse us of doing wrong?

*Why will those who do evil glorify God when Jesus Christ is revealed?

*Until the day “God visits us,” how are we to live—and how will this look day to day?

 

1. Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D., The Complete Word Study New Testament King James Version. (Chattanooga, Tennessee: AMG Publishers, 1991), 754.
2. Spiros Zodhiates. The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament (Chattanooga, Tennessee: AMG Publishers, 1992), 627, 1279
3. Zodhiates, Word Study Dictionary, 1315.
4. For more on this concept, visit Allen Arnold’s blog.
5. Zodhiates, Word Study Dictionary, 814, 834.
6. Zodhiates, Word Study Dictionary, 809.
7. Zodhiates, Word Study Dictionary, 646.
8. Zodhiates, Word Study Dictionary, 481.
9. Zodhiates, Word Study Dictionary, 711.
10. Zodhiates, Word Study Dictionary, 634.