A Cozy Place

558.  "A Cozy Place"
July 9, 2012
1 Peter 2-Part 6     
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.  1 Peter 2:11-12

LET IT GLOW

One summer, we took children with us to a camp in New Mexico. We had a family cabin rented where all four of us stayed. My husband and I attended training conferences while our two kids attended VBS type meetings. I tried to make it a cozy place for us to live for a week. I cooked the same meals we had back home. They slept with their comforting animals. Friends, Peter warns us not to make this world a cozy place because we are only traveling through this world, as believers in Jesus. Let's check out our key verses.

Peter is writing to us as friends, dearly beloved of God, His dear children.
He uses the word beseech, which denotes encouragement, and better translated as "My dear people, let me encourage you..." (Falwell)
Peter calls us strangers and pilgrims in this world. We are "resident aliens" who haave our citizenship in another country-heaven. we are temporary in this life, traveling toward the heavenly city (Heb. 11:8-16). (Wiersbe)

Life on earth, for a Christian, is like temporarily living in a foreign country. This is not our permanent home or final destination. You're just passing through, just visiting earth. Real believers understand that there is far more to life than just the few years we live on this planet. Your identity is in eternity, and your homeland is heaven. We are Christ's ambassadors (2Cor. 5:20).
(Rick Warren)

Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul.  (The Message)

Life is a test, a trust, and a temporary assignment so the appeal of things better loose their grip on our lives. (Warren)

LET IT GROW

Peter exhorts me to:

• abstain from fleshly lusts because I are in a constant battle against the soul (Gal. 5:24);
• maintain good conduct among the Gentiles (conversation refers to conduct); honesty and good conduct are to by my whole life;
• make sure my good works glorify God on the day of judgment.

Fleshly lusts are personified as if they were an army of rebels or guerrillas who incessantly search out and try to destroy the Christian's joy, peace, and usefulness.  (MacArthur)

Christians must outwardly live among non-Christians in a way which reflects that inward discipline.  (MacArthur)

Your time on earth is not the complete story of your life. You must wait until heaven for the rest of the chapters. It takes faith to live on earth as a foreigner.  (Warren)

LET IT GO

Remember I am loved by God.

Don't get too cozy in this world.

Abstain from fleshly lusts.

Speak honestly.

Glorify God with my good works.