Because
the “scattered” Christians were “a chosen generation”
by God Almighty, Peter wrote that they “in time past were
not a people, but are now the people of God:
which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy”, and
because they had, in chapter two and verse eleven of his letter,
Peter challenged them to “abstain from fleshly lusts”
where we read:
Dearly beloved, I
beseech you as strangers and pilgrims,
abstain from fleshly
lusts, which war against the soul;
The
verse begins, “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as
strangers and pilgrims,...” Peter began with the words, “Dearly
beloved” which means “well loved, esteemed, dear, favorite
and worthy of love”, “I beseech” or “call to one's
side, call for, summon, address, speak to, entreat, admonish, exhort
and beg” “you” which refers to the “scattered”
Christians “as strangers” or “foreigners, without
citizenship and sojourners” “and pilgrims” which means
“one who comes from a foreign country into a city or land to reside
by the side of the natives”. Peter called upon the Christians with
regard to their proper situation in the world - “strangers”
and “pilgrims”.
The
verse goes on to say, “...abstain from fleshly lusts, which war
against the soul;” Peter added, “abstain” or “to
hold one's self off or refrain” “from fleshly” which
means “carnal, having the nature of flesh or under the control of
the animal appetites” “lusts” or “desires, cravings,
longings and desires for what is forbidden” “which war”
or “to make a military expedition, to lead soldiers to war or to
battle, active service and to fight” “against the soul”
which means “down from, through out, according to, toward and along
the breath of life and vital force which animates the body and shows
itself in breathing and the seat of feelings, desires, affections and
aversions”. Because Christians are as “strangers” and
“pilgrims” in this world, they should keep themselves from
the fleshly desires which only fight against their feelings,
affections and desires which are to be dedicated to God.
When we
meditate upon Peter's words, we see the passion Peter has for these
early Christians. As “well-loved” strangers in this world, they
were to keep themselves from the “fleshly lusts” which are
in it. Many temptations of the flesh are available to Christians, and
they must keep themselves from them. Too many people have fallen prey
when they have not “abstained”, and their witness as a
Christian is tarnished. As we consider these things, let us look to
the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit to remind us of the “war”
in which we are engaged, and may we always remember, we are only
“strangers” and “pilgrims” here because this
world is not our home.
Next
time Peter tells the “scattered” Christians to do “good
works” so others will “glorify God”, so read ahead,
and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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