They Were Strangers!
Brad Reiches
Aug 30 2006 12:05AM
Brad Reiches
Aug 30 2006 12:05AM
Please visit our website at www.godthoughts.org, or www.willowspringchurch.org to download today's audio version of GodThoughts Wired!, music, sermons, sermonettes, the Bible Says Series, and The Lifestyle of the Disciple Series...ALL FOR FREE. You may also go to the Apple iTunes Music Store on the web and search the podcast directory for Willow Spring Church and/or GodThoughts. Subscribe there for automatic updates and download the daily GodThoughts podcast directly to your i-pod...ALL FOR FREE!
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
GodThoughtsWired!
GodThoughtsWired!
"They Were Strangers!"
"Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain
from fleshly lusts which wage war against your soul."
"Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain
from fleshly lusts which wage war against your soul."
1 Peter 2:11
Who were? Who were strangers? Well...I'll get to that. First, let me give you a couple of definitions:
Exile: "a prolonged living away from one's own country, usually enforced.
Alien: "foreign, a foreigner."
Ok. So, who were the strangers. Or, should I say, "Who ARE the strangers?" Well, they are the "few." The "few" who choose the "narrow road" (see Matthew 7:13-14). The few who truly choose to LIVE by faith during their "brief" (see James 4:13-17) stay upon the earth.
No, I'm not necessarily talking about religious people or church-goers or pastors or choir members (although there are undoubtedly some within those groups to which this applies). Rather, I'm referring to those who refer to themselves as "in the world but not of the world" (see John 17:17). Those who choose righteousness regardless of consequence, rather than the "passing pleasures of sin" (see Hebrews 11:25).
Yes, I'm talking about the "few" who are in the process of learning how to place Jesus first in EVERY area of their lives and "seek first His kingdom and righteousness" (see Colossians 1:18; Matthew 6:33).
I'm talking about the "exiles." The "strangers." The "aliens."
To say the least.
Exile: "a prolonged living away from one's own country, usually enforced.
Alien: "foreign, a foreigner."
Ok. So, who were the strangers. Or, should I say, "Who ARE the strangers?" Well, they are the "few." The "few" who choose the "narrow road" (see Matthew 7:13-14). The few who truly choose to LIVE by faith during their "brief" (see James 4:13-17) stay upon the earth.
No, I'm not necessarily talking about religious people or church-goers or pastors or choir members (although there are undoubtedly some within those groups to which this applies). Rather, I'm referring to those who refer to themselves as "in the world but not of the world" (see John 17:17). Those who choose righteousness regardless of consequence, rather than the "passing pleasures of sin" (see Hebrews 11:25).
Yes, I'm talking about the "few" who are in the process of learning how to place Jesus first in EVERY area of their lives and "seek first His kingdom and righteousness" (see Colossians 1:18; Matthew 6:33).
I'm talking about the "exiles." The "strangers." The "aliens."
To say the least.
No comments:
Post a Comment