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Exposition
Peter starts this verse by reminding you that God loves you and you have no choice than to reciprocate by obeying Him at all times. Peter goes on to describe Christian believers as strangers and pilgrims on earth because heaven is the permanent home. Therefore if you have permanent residency in heaven, your stay here on earth, no matter how long it is should be regarded as temporary. That is why you are a pilgrim or a stranger as you are only passing through the earth.
The text lets you know that there is war against your soul by fleshly lusts and the way of victory is to abstain from these fleshly lusts. It is interesting to note that there have been wars against nations, wars against terrorists, gangs wars fuelled by the desire to control territories and others too numerous to mention here. These wars are been carried by news outlets the world over but the war against your soul is not an issue that is worth mentioning in the press. No one will fight your battle for you.
Understand what the battle is about and take steps to ensure you win the battle for your soul. Your soul is saved and you have a new heart and you are a new creature. At the same time, you still have your old flesh which still wants to do things as you’ve always done. The war takes place as your new soul fights back against your flesh daily.
Fleshly lusts take place in the mind and when you are carried away by the thoughts, a decision is made to act physically on the lust and a sin is committed. Of course, the wages of sin is death. Paul gave a list of the sins of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21, and they include immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and such like. Everyone not on the list is covered under “and such like”.
To abstain from these fleshly lusts is to put a distance between you and the lusts or to disassociate yourself from them. You can’t do this by yourself. To win this battle you will need the Holy Spirit to help you. It is the Holy Spirit that can supply you the power for, without Him, you can do nothing. There is a complete reliance required for this battle to be won as your strength is not enough to see you through. The Holy Spirit supplies the power and you supply your choice to take any action that is needed to obey the commandment of God.
As a man who knows that his time here is short, and you are on your way to Heaven, you will choose to honour God in all your endeavours rather than do things the way the “world” does theirs. The standards and ways of the world are not important to you. Do not soil yourself as that will make you ineligible for Heaven.
Prayer
Keep me away from every weakness. When I commit acts of uncleanness against my body I injure my soul. Help me to run away from every appearance of evil. Help me not to defile myself.
Help me to abstain from every lust as I live in the knowledge that I am a stranger and pilgrim while here on earth. Help me to make decisions that will honour God. Help me so I am not moved by advertising or TV or anything that the world is using to tempt me in Jesus name.
Bible Reading Plan in 26 weeks (Be part of the Bible Reading Program)
Day 33
Genesis 45-46
Judges 9
Job 33
Jeremiah 33
Mark 5
1 Corinthians 5
Revelation 21
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