Wednesday Words of Encouragement
1 Peter 2:11-12 (NLT) ~
Dear friends, I warn you as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
When my children were little they loved to visit people, and especially certain friends of ours that were great with children. One friend, in particular, would have toys, snacks and games just for them. The kids loved her house, and I would often tease that my children would rather live with her. There were a few times when I would just be popping in to pick something up and would tell the children, "We aren't staying." "Don't make yourselves comfortable."
The same hold true for us as believers. This is not our home. It's a temporary place we dwell until we get to our true home in heaven one day. Since it's not our true home, we shouldn't get too comfortable. Don't relax so much that you start to act like those who don't know the Lord. We should live our lives in such a way that people would not be able to find fault with us, even if they unjustly accuse us.
Unfortunately, too many Christians still live a life that does not look very different from their unbelieving neighbors. They get caught up in materialism. They gossip. They cheat others. They lie. They manipulate. They do many of the things that those who don't know Christ do. In forgetting that this is not their permanent residence, they live as people who don't know the Lord.
Let's be careful to remember that this earth is a temporary dwelling place for us. Let's remember to shine our lights to those around us. Don't get so caught up in living the same lifestyle as your unbelieving neighbor that they can't see any difference in you at all.
Dear friends, I warn you as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
When my children were little they loved to visit people, and especially certain friends of ours that were great with children. One friend, in particular, would have toys, snacks and games just for them. The kids loved her house, and I would often tease that my children would rather live with her. There were a few times when I would just be popping in to pick something up and would tell the children, "We aren't staying." "Don't make yourselves comfortable."
The same hold true for us as believers. This is not our home. It's a temporary place we dwell until we get to our true home in heaven one day. Since it's not our true home, we shouldn't get too comfortable. Don't relax so much that you start to act like those who don't know the Lord. We should live our lives in such a way that people would not be able to find fault with us, even if they unjustly accuse us.
Unfortunately, too many Christians still live a life that does not look very different from their unbelieving neighbors. They get caught up in materialism. They gossip. They cheat others. They lie. They manipulate. They do many of the things that those who don't know Christ do. In forgetting that this is not their permanent residence, they live as people who don't know the Lord.
Let's be careful to remember that this earth is a temporary dwelling place for us. Let's remember to shine our lights to those around us. Don't get so caught up in living the same lifestyle as your unbelieving neighbor that they can't see any difference in you at all.
Remember that this is a temporary visit so don't get too comfortable!
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