lately, i feel like i need to be rejecting the ways of this world. the feeling is so strong, that i was discussing this with my wife last night. i'll paraphrase it for you; i told her that, i could care less about the house we live in, the cars we drive, the furniture we sit on. i believe these are things that are getting in the way of our relationship with God. and it's not just random thoughts, i seem to hear this in the music i listen to and the pastors i talk with. there seems to be a very overt movement toward the rejection of the society that surrounds us...so as i flipped through the Bible this morning, i came across 1 peter 2:11-12.
it states:
"Dear friends, you are like foreigners and strangers in this world. I beg you to avoid the evil things your bodies want to do that fight against your soul. People who do not believe are living all around you and might say that you are doing wrong. Live such good lives that they will see the good things you do and will give glory to God on the day when Christ comes again."
God makes no bones about His children and their role in this world. we are "foreigners and strangers"...what does this mean? by definition, a foreigner is a "person from outside one's community" and a stranger is "a person who is not a member of the family, group, community, or the like, as a visitor or guest"...
...i particularly like that God is telling us that we are merely a "visitor or guest" of this world. He knows that our time here on earth is short and that we will not be a part of it forever. we are here for only a short time. we are his children and we will return to our Father, after this life is over!
i find it so interesting to be a believer of Christ in this world; because we are not of this world. we have to face so many temptations, sins, and evil; yet we must rise up against it and be models of Christ. i think that God knows this isn't an easy task, but as i heard some where at some time, "it won't be easy, but it will be worth it."
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I really like this, and I too struggle everyday with "things" I want what I have to be nice. Mainly because I would rather buy quality and have it last then buy junk and have it break or fall apart and have to spend more money to replace or fix it. But I struggle sometimes paying for the high price items even though often it is better to buy the nicer quality. Sometimes I too wish I could just live in the country and grow my own food, not have to drive to work everyday so my car would last longer and not breakdown so quickly and not care what I wear as much everyday or have to have two wardrobes one for work and one for play. And I could just stay home and take care of my beautiful family. But for now that is not the season though I pray that God will bless me with that life sometime soon. This is inspirational though and I feel it gives me something to work toward. Thank you
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