Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 1 Peter 2:11
Last week I talked about the church as the assembly, those called together by Christ, called out of the world. Since we are called out of the world then we should be different. Peter, in the verse above describes us as sojourners and exiles. A sojourner is an old term. A sojourner is someone who is passing through, only in the current place temporarily. He does not belong so he only stays in hotels. He is only a temporary visitor. The other word Peter uses is exile. An exile, like a sojourner is from another place. Usually exiles want to get back home; they are reluctant visitor, forced from their land.
These two words are used to describe us as Christians in this world. We are exiles from heaven, in this world but not of this world. We are passing through, on our way back to heaven. We are different, called out to be different, preparing and learning to live like citizens of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus describes the contrast between the world and the way we should be this way: "31Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or
‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:31-33. On a basic level the world is all about survival and doing whatever it takes to survive. In an affluent society, the world is about getting more and clothes, experiencing drinks and taste and foods. These are the things that typically occupy people. And it is not that we are to be wholly detached and unconcerned about these things, but, that we are not to be preoccupied. We are to live a life that shows our main concern is preparing to move in with God. That includes all the virtues that come from the character of God, such as loving our neighbor as ourselves.
Does seeking first the kingdom of God characterize our life or do we blend in with the rest of the world and reflect their values instead? Where are we finding our satisfaction? What does it take for us to live a life that shows that we are seeking God and not just satisfaction for ourselves today?
Pray that God may change us more and more to be different, more like Jesus. I encourage to use Matthew 13:22 to reflect further on this
Grace and Peace,
Pastor MacDonald