Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 17 – 1 Peter 2:11-12 – Abstain From Sinful Desires – Growing As Disciples
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 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 2:11-12 (NIV)
My True Home
I think I am just starting to see life in its proper perspective. How so? I am like an alien or stranger just passing through this life. This is not my true home. In a very brief amount of time, my life on this earth will be over. It will be nothing but a foolish waste of time and effort for me to try to make myself too cozy in this life. After all, I brought nothing into this world, I will take nothing out of this world. Why is it significant that you see the brevity of your life? Why is it important that you identify your true home? Why is critical for you to know that you can take nothing out of this world? Well, I will tell you one thing for sure. What’s that? The world and all that is in it, is trying to wage war against my soul. How so? The world is trying to captivate me and allure me and entice me into pursuing all that it has to offer. Why is that so bad? I really have two choices. I can either pursue the life you want me to live or I can pursue the life that the world is trying to entice me to live. I can pursue earthly or heavenly treasure. My heart and mind and life can be focused on heaven or on earth. There is no middle ground. I can’t have it both ways. No, you cannot. Not only that, time is flying by. I don’t have an unlimited number of days to live. You have given me places to go. You have given me things to do. I want to live each day faithfully and fully and fruitfully for you. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. That’s very good.
So, what will you do? How will you live your life differently? I will guard my heart and mind and life from being captivated by the world and all that is in it. I will rely on you to help me to live a faithful and fruitful and good life. I will endeavor to be a bold and bright witness for you in the world. It will be my hope and desire and plan to do good works that will cause even unbelievers to give thanks and praise to you. These will not be my good works. These will be the good works that you give me to do. It is my prayer that these good works will help draw a multitude of people to you. Then many will come to know and love and follow you. Then I will be storing up treasure in heaven with you. Yes, you will and that will be very good.
Heavenly Father, I know I am just passing through this life. This world is not my true home. I am like a stranger in this world. So, I will not try to make myself too cozy in this life. Instead, help me to do good works that cause even unbelievers to give thanks to you. Amen
Key Question… How are you guarding your life so you will remain a faithful and fruitful witness for Christ in this world?
Living It Out… Know that you are a stranger and alien in this world as you faithfully and fruitfully do good works for the Lord.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to live a faithful and fruitful life as a stranger or alien passing through this world.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group why unbelievers might thank God for your good works.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you abstain from worldly desires as you do the good works God gives you to do for Him.
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