Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.

I Peter 2:11

The passage in I Peter 2:11 urges readers to live as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. We also must live in submission to the Holy Spirit, seeking to live in such a way that those who do not believe in Christ will see our good deeds and glorify God. (v.12) In order to live as strangers in the world, we must be familiar with God’s ways, and our standard must be God’s Word. Last summer I kayaked in a river off the ocean. When I got to a certain place in the river, the tide of the ocean began to pull me and I had to use all of my strength to steer the kayak back into calm waters. Eventually, I pulled over to the shore because I was too tired to fight it any longer. The tide pulling me to danger is like the world trying to lure us into being disobedient to God’s Word. God’s Word is like the river, gently leading us, teaching us God’s ways and keeping us out of harm’s way. We may fight the tide, but sometimes the tide pulls at us so hard we are forced to go to shore and leave the peace of the river. Jesus told the woman at the well that He was living water. He is still living water today that gives us peace in the tides of the world in which we live.

Do you have a sin that is pulling you further and further away from the security of God’s loving river? I Peter 2 challenges us to live as strangers in this world, conforming to God’s ways and His will. It is not always easy to go against the tide, but the benefits far outweigh the struggle.

Heavenly Father,

Your ways are not the ways of the world. I find myself tempted to sin, and I have become dull to Your Word. Help me to establish my life on the standard of Your Word and keep me protected in Your living water.

In Jesus’ name, Amen