Greetings to all, we've made it to another Friday. Instead of just thanking God that it's Friday, let us give Him the glory for our life, health, and strength that has allowed us to make it here today. It may seem like it has been a sprint getting here, and for others, it may seem like it has been a marathon.
With so much going on in the world today, we never know from day to day what we're be doing or where we will be.
No matter what, no matter where, God remains the same today, yesterday and forever!!! He isn't going anywhere, and we're reminded of that truth, especially during the hard times in our lives. God continues to be the only constant in our lives as we live in this world today.
The Apostle Peter lets us know in this scripture today that as Christians, we live as "pilgrims and strangers" in this world as he shares with us what our relationship with this world is supposed to look like.
1 Peter 2:9-12 (GW)
9 However, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God. You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
10 Once you were not God's people, but now you are. Once you were not shown mercy, but now you have been shown mercy.
11 Dear friends, since you are foreigners and temporary residents {in the world}, I'm encouraging you to keep away from the desires of your corrupt nature. These desires constantly attack you.
12 Live decent lives among unbelievers. Then, although they ridicule you as if you were doing wrong while they are watching you do good things, they will praise God on the day he comes to help you.
Ever since the fall of man in Genesis chapter 3, when sin first entered this world; The world became such a colossal battleground where the angels under Satan's power and those under God's authority are at war.
The following passage of scripture is a portion of the prayer that Jesus prayed for his disciples, and for those of us who follow him today. The complete chapter is the whole prayer (John 17:1-26).
He prayed that God would keep His chosen people safe from Satan’s power here on earth, that He would set them apart, and that He would make them pure and holy, by uniting them through His truth.
John 17:9-18 (NLT2)
9 "My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you.
10 All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory.
11 Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are.
12 During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.
13 "Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world, so they would be filled with my joy.
14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.
15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.
16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do.
17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.
18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.
Lesson: It is because of what God has done through Christ Jesus and the fact that He is with us in this world that we can remain hopeful and live in a place that we know is not our home.
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