{"id":22419,"date":"2018-02-13T00:05:02","date_gmt":"2018-02-13T08:05:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=22419"},"modified":"2018-02-08T11:33:25","modified_gmt":"2018-02-08T19:33:25","slug":"february-13-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2018\/02\/13\/february-13-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"February 13, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cBeloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.\u201d<\/em> 1Peter 2:11-12<\/p>\n

Sojourners and Pilgrims<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Peter uses these words as metaphors, in reference to heaven as the native country, and one who sojourns (resides in a strange or foreign place) on earth. As Jesus said to Pilate in John 18:36, \u201cMy Kingdom is not of this world<\/em>.\u201d We are not of this world. We are simply passing through on our way to our real home. We are admonished to do so with honorable conduct and good works (good deeds or noble actions).<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one\u2019s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot\u201d<\/em> (1Peter 1:17-19).<\/p>\n

The fear Peter describes is reverence and respect, as your whole way of feeling and acting, your aims and endeavors.<\/p>\n

Our mission here on earth is lived in reverence and with respect to God\u2014to act nobly, remembering the incredibly precious price that redeemed us into heaven\u2014thus pointing the way for others to the same redemption.<\/p>\n

My husband lived down in the Los Angeles area two separate times in his 20\u2019s. He said he always felt like a stranger in a strange land. The older I get, the more I understand that. I feel more and more like I don\u2019t belong here, like I don\u2019t fit in. I feel a calling to go home, to my real heavenly home, more strongly than I ever have. That used to bother me, until I realized, it\u2019s okay, I really don\u2019t belong here, I\u2019m truly not of this world.<\/p>\n

Ladies, there ought to be something different about us. We ought to stand out as sojourners and pilgrims, not in a negative way, but in a way that brings honor and glory to God.<\/p>\n

\u201cFather God, thank You that one day You will take us to our true home, to be with You forever, but in the meantime may our time as sojourners and pilgrims count\u2014may we take the mission You have given us to heart. May our actions bring You glory and point others toward the saving grace of Your Son. Amen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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