i peter 2:11-12 (nkjv) 11 beloved, i beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts...

I Peter 2:11-12 (NKJV)

11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

JUST A PILGRIMI Peter 2:11-12

Just A Pilgrim

November is the month in our country when we celebrate Thanksgiving

Among all that is done towards this holiday, there are many things that symbolize this event

One of those is the “Thanksgiving Scene” of the Pilgrims and Indians eating together

Just A Pilgrim

The Bible has something to say about the pilgrims

We are the pilgrims that are spoken of by Peter in I Peter

We are pilgrims in the true sense of the word

Just A Pilgrim

What exactly does it mean for you and I to be pilgrims in this life?

What kind of disposition should I have as a pilgrim or sojourner?

Having the right mindset as a pilgrim will go a long way in helping us navigate through this life

A Pilgrim…

1. Is a stranger in a foreign land

We often sing the song, “This World Is Not My Home”

Do we really mean what we sing?

There may be those who sing that song, yet live as though they are completely satisfied with living on this earth

A Pilgrim…

1. Is a stranger in a foreign land

Peter calls us sojourners and pilgrims (I Pet. 2:11)

Those terms literally mean foreigner or stranger

That’s exactly what we are to be in the world today

A Pilgrim…

1. Is a stranger in a foreign land

Abraham was a stranger in the land in which he dwelled

Hebrews 11:8-9, 13

He did not know the land that he was to dwell in, but it did not stop him from following God’s command

A Pilgrim…

2. Never gets comfortable or conforms

By nature, a pilgrim never really becomes comfortable being in a foreign land

If you ever do any traveling, you normally aren’t gone for very long

Whatever town you find yourself in, you are a stranger there (probably live out of a suitcase)

A Pilgrim…

2. Never gets comfortable or conforms

Listen to what was said about Abraham…

“By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob…” (Heb. 11:9)

Abraham never got too comfortable, because he thought of himself as a pilgrim

A Pilgrim…

2. Never gets comfortable or conforms

We most certainly should never get too comfortable here on earth

That also means not conforming to the world around us

Peter said that as pilgrims we should abstain from fleshly lusts, which are things of the world (I Pet. 2:11)

A Pilgrim…

2. Never gets comfortable or conforms

Paul told us not to conform to this world(Rom. 12:2)

Jesus reminded the apostles that they were not of the world (Jn. 15:19)

John reminded us not to love the world or the things in the world (I Jn. 2:15-17)

A Pilgrim…

3. Longs for home

We may sometimes long for a vacation, or to get away for a while

However, we always find ourselves longing for home

Paul said that “our citizenship is in heaven”(Phil. 3:20)

A Pilgrim…

3. Longs for home

Abraham was one who longed for the heavenly home

“for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:10)

vs. 13-16

A Pilgrim…

3. Longs for homeJesus has promised us a room at home (Jn. 14:1-6)

What we have here is not permanent (Heb. 13:14)

“Home is where the heart is” (Matt. 6:19; Col. 3:2)