I Peter
2:11
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and
pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
The previous 2 verses reminded us that we are God’s
special people, particularly chosen to obtain His mercy and proclaim His
praises. Verse 9 said that as believers
we are a “chosen generation” and have become part of a “royal” family. Perhaps readers in Peter’s day and ours would
be prone to misunderstand how this chosen standing and royal privilege should be
fleshed out in real life, so Peter gives in these upcoming verses a picture of
the lifestyle appropriate for those who are God’s “special people.” Although we are called “chosen,” “royal,”
and “called” in verse 9, this special position with God gives us absolutely no
license to live for our own pleasures and desires as we might suppose.
Firstly, verse 11 says that since we are called to be
God’s people let us remember that our citizenship is in heaven and live our
lives on earth as “sojourners and pilgrims.”
We are passing through this world; this is not our final home. We are not to become overly attached to the
pleasures and possessions the world has to offer. Since we are God’s special people, let us
make Him our special desire, ignoring the temporary pleasures available
nearby. David says in Psalm 42, “As the
deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living
God.” God is David’s heart’s
desire. He longs to be with God, to know
God, and to enjoy God’s uplifting presence.
So then, he joins with others who also make God their desire and in Psalm
42:4 David says, “I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy
and praise, with a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.” We are specially chosen by God to enjoy His
presence. In this world, we have joys
and pleasures, and “feasts” which God in His kindness grants to His
children. But they are “pilgrim
feasts.” They are temporary pleasures
and are not meant to distract us from the true object of our affection – Jesus
Christ Himself. This is the second time
in this letter that Peter has called us “pilgrims” (see verse 1:1). Peter does not want us to forget this
point. We are called to a royal
relationship with the Creator – but this relationship does not mean that we
should expect or seek a fine allotment of earthly goods. Travelers (sojourners) want to pack light –
it makes for easier travel. So then let
us “pack lightly,” with the intent of not burdening ourselves with unnecessary
weights as we make our way heavenward.
Secondly, Peter calls God’s people to “abstain from
fleshly lusts which war against the soul.”
As “sojourners and pilgrims” we are to avoid attachments to worldly
goods, and as God’s “holy nation” (verse 9) we are to avoid attachments to
worldly lusts. People who do not know
God live to fulfill the lusts of the flesh (I Thessalonians 4:5). It is a tragedy when Christians live no
differently. We are called by God to be
His “holy nation.” He gives us His
Spirit to dwell with us so that we can be in intimate contact with Him all day
every day! What a joy! But the Spirit in us who calls us to God also
calls us to holy living. When God’s
Spirit is in our soul and we give in to the lusts of the flesh, our lusts “war
against our soul.” Our cleansed soul
loves being holy, but our earthly flesh lusts after sensual pleasures and these
war against each other. God has called
us to peace (I Corinthians 7:15), but our peace is marred and replaced with an
inner war when we give in to lustful thoughts and actions. Sexual pleasures appear alluring, and tempt
people to feel good for a moment, but for the godly believer, lust brings
war.
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