Day 8: 1 Peter 2:11-12 - The Second Mile

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Knowing what and where the finish line is, is a large part of what it means to be a runner. Additionally, no serious team goes into halftime thinking the game is over. Whether by ignorance or indignation we often leave the things of the Christian life only half finished. Inspect your thoughts and actions to see if there is a tendency to hit the showers at halftime or to veer off course running as a pedestrian disqualified for the prize.

The first thing to notice is that our sanctification is not merely abstaining from sin but fighting to kill it. Peter points out that the flesh wages war against your soul, have you declared war against it?

Secondly, we are called to live and fight sin in such a way that it has the effect of winning souls for Christ. It is not simply that our tormentors would cease to accuse us of being evildoers or being thought of as ignorant (2:15) or slandered (3:16) but that they would come to glorify God. We do not do good deeds to simply save our face but to save souls.

If you are in space and want to go in the opposite direction at the same speed, it would actually require double the amount of energy to accomplish this. Going 5 mph to the right would require 5 mph of going to the left to get to 0 mph and then an additional 5 mph to successfully turn around. Simply getting to 0 mph isn’t good enough in this situation.

When enduring for Christ’s sake with gritted teeth and a cold heart, remember that the same things you are bearing is what you once were doing to the Son before he caused you to be born again (1:3). Taste him as good, pray for mercy to melt your heart and proceed to love. No matter the cost, to whatever distance.

And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Matthew 5:41

Complete your tasks so that in the day of visitation, you will be found faithful!

Posted by Andrew Kim on 6/29/2016

Comments

The NIV translation states the verses as follows:
"11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."

Ultimately, the verses say the same thing, but the different use of words helped me to identify a couple things. This world is not our home. Peter urges us to be strangers, sojournors of this world. We're just passing through. We are pitching tents, not laying down foundation.

We are to fight the "passions of the flesh (ESV)" or "sinful desires (NIV)" every day. I like how Saemin noted that this is war. Like the movie "The War Room," fighting sin and temptation requires a strategic plan which often requires intentional prayer and constant vigilance (whoop to Harry Potter fans!). I remember hearing that there is always a moment before falling to temptation. It's a split second, but it's where you need to determine your strategy. Will you fight and literally run in the opposite direction which most likely the cross is shining and Jesus is waiting for you? Or will you give in, even just this one time, to sin to enjoy whatever it is for a short period of time only to find the shame and guilt afterwards?

Is your God worth the fight? I admire soliders who fight for the higher purpose. I have rarely met a solider that said, "I fought in the war because I had a personal grudge against that entire country." Many fight because they love their country and want to ensure that it remains a safe place. Others hear the threats against people they love by terrorists and want to ensure that their loved ones remain safe. We are called to a higher purpose, and we must fight for our treasure that is found in Jesus Christ.

Diana Lim on 6/29/2016 at 8:08 AM

Verse 12 reminds me of this quote written by Julian, an emperor of Rome, who was anti-Christianity and wanted to move Rome back to worshiping pagan gods:

"Why do we not observe that it is their [the Christians’] benevolence to strangers, their care for the graves of the dead, and the pretended holiness of their lives that have done most to increase atheism [unbelief of the pagan gods]? For it is disgraceful that, when no Jew ever has to beg, and the impious Galileans [Christians] support not only their own poor but ours as well, all men see that our people lack aid from us. Teach those of the Hellenic faith to contribute to public service of this sort."

(copied from http://www.alanknox.net/2011/01/the-christians-support-not-only-their-own-poor-but-ours-as-well/ )

Chris Moon on 6/30/2016 at 10:49 PM