Download - I Peter 2:11- 12 (NKJV)
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 home
Jesus 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)