I Am Just Passing Through February 18

Think about it … When have you said, “There’s no place like home”? There’s a sense that believers live in a society and culture that contrasts to our eventual home in heaven. Our lives in this world should reflect our eternal home. Today we study Peter’s comments about this.

Listen for how to be different. 1 Peter 2:11-12 (NIV) Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Good Works Point to Christ What are believers in relationship to this world? In what manner are believers to live before unbelievers? Why is that so often a challenge? Why do we need encouragement to live good lives among non-Christians?

Good Works Point to Christ What good deeds in our lives should non-Christians be able to see? How can we do good deeds so they are both a witness and a discrete act of service (that is, not merely for show)? When you observe someone who is foreign, what gives them away … how can you tell?

Good Works Point to Christ What does that suggest about the practical implications of believers living as strangers and exiles (aliens)? How does knowing you are just passing through in this life motivate you to live for Christ instead of the world?

Listen for what is God’s will. 1 Peter 2:13-15 (NIV) Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.

Submit to Authorities Who are the entities to whom we show respect? To what authorities or masters should we submit ourselves today? What reasons does Peter give for this respect? Why is showing this respect difficult at times? Recall the experiences of those to whom Peter is writing.

Submit to Authorities Why does God allow government, even if it is a sinful and harsh one? What is to be our response even in these kind of situations? Recall Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. Claim this promise.

Listen for comments on freedom. 1 Peter 2:16-17 (NIV) Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

Use Freedom Appropriately What did Peter tell his readers not to do with their freedom? What role does respect play in our interactions with authority? How does being slaves to God set believers free?

Use Freedom Appropriately In what ways do some Christians abuse their freedom? In what ways can we focus our citizenship in God’s kingdom? How does living this kind of life help us be better citizens in this life?

Application Set a reminder. Place something in your home to remind you this world is not your final destination. Remind yourself that you were made for heaven.

Application Take Inventory. Evaluate your life in light of the four statements in 1 Peter 2:17. Ask yourself, “How am I doing in showing proper respect to everyone, loving the family of believers, fearing God, and honoring the leaders in our city, state, and nation?”

Application Serve. In our freedom, we are called to serve God and others. Write down ways you can intentionally serve God and others this week. Make this a matter of prayer and commitment as you seek to live your life in a way that honors the Lord.

Family Activities Hey, why don’t ya see if youse can reconstruct the Fallen Phrase. If ya get stuck ya can cheat and look up the solution at https://tinyurl.com/y7rjjheg. There’s other neat stuff there too.

I Am Just Passing Through February 18