Day 3: Different Faith
THINK
Peter said we are "temporary residents and foreigners." That means someone who is just passing through. It means someone who is not in their permanent home yet. Peter is telling them that their LOCATION is not their DESINATION. Peter wanted the early Christians, and all Christians, to know this world, as it is, is not our home. So, what this world revolves around will not be what our world revolves around. In OUR lives, Jesus is the main character! We are different. We are strangers passing through. This world may be our current location, but we have a different destination.
We may occasionally find ourselves in the water. From time to time we might go for a swim. Maybe we go boating, maybe skiing or wakeboarding. We might spend all day on a pontoon or even go scuba diving… but we don't LIVE in the water. When we're in the water it's just temporary. We're just passing through. Fish live in the water, we live on land. The same is true with this world. We may spend some time here. We may even have some fun here. There may be some things we like and enjoy… but it's not our home. This is just temporary. We have a permanent eternal home that God is preparing for us. And in this world, we're just passing through.
If we have faith in Jesus, we have a different destination. And because our destination is different, WE are different. Our lives are different, our calling is different, our morals are different, our appearance is different, our response to suffering is different, our words are different, and our priorities are different. You may live in the place you were born, but if you follow Christ, you’re a foreigner in the world. Peter reminds us Jesus is no longer a traveler just passing through; For a time, He was one of us… but now He is home sitting next to His Father—and your Father. Peter also tells us that Jesus suffered for our sins to bring us to God… to bring us home.
As you read 1 Peter chapter 3, consider how your destination should affect your direction. Does my life point my family and my friends toward God? Do my conversations, favorite music, and gut-level reactions look like I’m headed toward God? Do I work, spend money, and lead like someone who’s following Jesus home? In general, do I look more like my location or my destination?
READ
1Peter 2
11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.
15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. 16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. 17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.
18 You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. 19 For God is pleased when, conscious of His will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. 20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.
21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered, l for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps.
22 He never sinned,
nor ever deceived anyone.
23 He did not retaliate when He was insulted,
nor threaten revenge when He suffered.
He left His case in the hands of God,
Who always judges fairly.
24 He personally carried our sins
in His body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin
and live for what is right.
By His wounds you are healed.
1Peter 3
8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and He will grant you His blessing. 10 For the Scriptures say,
“If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.
11 Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
12 The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right,
and His ears are open to their prayers.
But the LORD turns His face against those who do evil.”
13 Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. 15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. 17 Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!
18 Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but He died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but He was raised to life in the Spirit.
22 Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept His authority.
PRAY
God, thank You for making a place for me with You in eternity. Thank You for sending Your Son and the Holy Spirit to my world to make a way for me. I ask You to help me direct my life, all of it, toward You. Amen.
SAY
I will not be LIKE the world
because I am not OF the world.
By faith, I am just passing through.
This world is not my home.
So by faith I will be different.
because by faith, Jesus is bringing me home.
Peter said we are "temporary residents and foreigners." That means someone who is just passing through. It means someone who is not in their permanent home yet. Peter is telling them that their LOCATION is not their DESINATION. Peter wanted the early Christians, and all Christians, to know this world, as it is, is not our home. So, what this world revolves around will not be what our world revolves around. In OUR lives, Jesus is the main character! We are different. We are strangers passing through. This world may be our current location, but we have a different destination.
We may occasionally find ourselves in the water. From time to time we might go for a swim. Maybe we go boating, maybe skiing or wakeboarding. We might spend all day on a pontoon or even go scuba diving… but we don't LIVE in the water. When we're in the water it's just temporary. We're just passing through. Fish live in the water, we live on land. The same is true with this world. We may spend some time here. We may even have some fun here. There may be some things we like and enjoy… but it's not our home. This is just temporary. We have a permanent eternal home that God is preparing for us. And in this world, we're just passing through.
If we have faith in Jesus, we have a different destination. And because our destination is different, WE are different. Our lives are different, our calling is different, our morals are different, our appearance is different, our response to suffering is different, our words are different, and our priorities are different. You may live in the place you were born, but if you follow Christ, you’re a foreigner in the world. Peter reminds us Jesus is no longer a traveler just passing through; For a time, He was one of us… but now He is home sitting next to His Father—and your Father. Peter also tells us that Jesus suffered for our sins to bring us to God… to bring us home.
As you read 1 Peter chapter 3, consider how your destination should affect your direction. Does my life point my family and my friends toward God? Do my conversations, favorite music, and gut-level reactions look like I’m headed toward God? Do I work, spend money, and lead like someone who’s following Jesus home? In general, do I look more like my location or my destination?
READ
1Peter 2
11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.
15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. 16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. 17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.
18 You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. 19 For God is pleased when, conscious of His will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. 20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.
21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered, l for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps.
22 He never sinned,
nor ever deceived anyone.
23 He did not retaliate when He was insulted,
nor threaten revenge when He suffered.
He left His case in the hands of God,
Who always judges fairly.
24 He personally carried our sins
in His body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin
and live for what is right.
By His wounds you are healed.
1Peter 3
8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and He will grant you His blessing. 10 For the Scriptures say,
“If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.
11 Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
12 The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right,
and His ears are open to their prayers.
But the LORD turns His face against those who do evil.”
13 Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. 15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. 17 Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!
18 Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but He died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but He was raised to life in the Spirit.
22 Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept His authority.
PRAY
God, thank You for making a place for me with You in eternity. Thank You for sending Your Son and the Holy Spirit to my world to make a way for me. I ask You to help me direct my life, all of it, toward You. Amen.
SAY
I will not be LIKE the world
because I am not OF the world.
By faith, I am just passing through.
This world is not my home.
So by faith I will be different.
because by faith, Jesus is bringing me home.