2 minute read.
Daily Reading: Ezekiel 47:1-48:35 ESV, 1 Peter 2:11-3:7 ESV, Psalm 119:49-64 ESV, Proverbs 28:12-13 ESV
Daily Verse: “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 ESV)
PAROIKOS (3941): “Having a home near, i.e. (as noun) a by-dweller (alien resident). In 2 Peter 2:11, “strangers.”[1]
Alien resident.
None of us belong on earth; our eternal home waits for us. In the meantime, we must battle our worldly desires by keeping our eyes on Jesus. Getting wrapped up in the trivial things of this life takes us off the narrow path.
I managed a small leather store in Williamsburg, VA, in my twenties. A.R. Leather no longer exists, but I rode my bike to its doors when I worked for the company. Mooretown Rd., a five-mile stretch, has a small gap between the edge of the road and the white line outlining it.
I imagined the small black strip as the narrow path following Jesus each day. If I left the trail, I would get back on as quickly as possible, knowing I’m safe when I’m on the right path.
Course correct.
As sojourners, an alien in a foreign world, we must do two things. Know our destination and learn how to course correct. Life with Jesus gives us our destination, heaven. One day, we’ll walk through the pearly gates. Until then, we must journey this life, sharing Jesus with others through acts of love and compassion.
Now and then, the flesh wins, probably more than we would like. Like me on my bike, make course corrections during those times. Re-adjust your focus, place your eyes on Jesus and remember your mission: love God, love others.
Repeatedly, until the day God calls you home.
Never in this world will you get it entirely right. Accepting the truth helps me let go of my aspirations of perfection. Nothing I can do can save my soul, only Jesus, and He does it freely.
With Christ, our weaknesses become strengths. The more honest and transparent you become with the Lord, the more God will use you. Embracing our imperfections helps us receive God’s perfect love into our lives, then share it with the world.
[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 193) Thomas Nelson
