Author: Daryl Pint

 1 Peter 2:11-12 Beloved, 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.

I’ve noticed a trend in recent years.

Once upon a time, if a Christian came to the realization that they disagreed with what the Bible calls sin, they would merely walk away from the faith. They wanted to live life by their own rules without being anchored to the truths of God’s Word, so they split and no longer called themselves a Christian.

Lately, I’ve noticed a number of people—celebrities, politicians, athletes and even some in my everyday life—who make the choice to indulge in the things of the world, but still claim the Name of Christ. In order to do this, they often cherry-pick a Bible verse that they feel endorses their stance or twist Scripture to make it say something it doesn’t.

They may even be completely biblically illiterate, but in their mind, they’ve made Jesus or the Bible into some sort of sin-supporting entity. After all, if God is love, they reason, He must love everything they do.

I’m going to make this clear: Sin matters!

And what is sin? “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).

Yes, Jesus paid the price for your sin on the cross, and as a follower of His you no longer walk in shame and guilt, but in the fullness of Christ. Even still, as children of God, we are called repeatedly throughout Scripture to pursue righteousness and turn from the pleasures of the world. Why? Because there’s still a spiritual cost to sin.

The apostle Peter, in his first letter (1 Peter 2:11-12), tells us why it is important to turn from the lusts of this world.

First, simply put, we are to turn our backs on evil desires because the Bible calls us to do so. Peter says, “Abstain from fleshly lusts” (v. 11). If we are truly followers of Jesus and pursuing a relationship with Him, then we must heed the Word of God. Peter is commanding the reader to live a life of transformation in Jesus.

When we sin, there is forgiveness. However, sinning should not be our default setting. Our desire should be to follow God’s Word and His righteousness.

Second, we should abstain from the pleasures of the world because we are “sojourners and pilgrims,” (v. 11) simply passing through on our way to our true and eternal home. In my part of the country, hiking the Appalachian Trail is a major event. It’s an arduous journey, stretching more than 2,000 miles.

When a person is hiking the trail, they don’t concern themselves with what is happening in the surrounding communities (of which they are not citizens), and they don’t accumulate things that will needlessly burden them. They have one goal, and their eyes are fixed on it.

The same is true for us. We are citizens of heaven. We should not immerse ourselves in the pleasures of this world—or weigh ourselves down with the junk of this world—because it hinders our walk with God. Rather, we should draw ever closer to God and follow where He is leading.

Third, we need to abstain from these fleshly lusts because they “war against the soul” (v. 11). One of the main goals of war is to inflict casualties on the opposing side. Even for followers of Christ, there is a battle raging, with Satan trying to harm you spiritually. These evil desires seek to destroy your testimony, your character, your family and your ministry—that is why we must flee from such things.

Finally, we are to keep away from such desires because it gives us an opportunity to witness to others (v. 12). When unbelievers see that we are living apart from the trappings of the world, it makes them question what makes us different.

I’ve always said that you can’t live a life that is good enough to save anybody. However, you can pursue God in such a way that others will see your faith, and this will give you an opportunity to share “the hope that is within you” (1 Peter 3:15).

My friends, it is a grave mistake to take sin lightly, or to believe the lie that—since Christ died for our sin—there are no consequences to our actions. There are spiritual and eternal (not to mention physical) costs to be paid when we ignore God’s guidance through His Word. Rather, I would encourage you to cling to Christ, and dig so deeply into the Bible that you can spot a truth from a lie.

Then pursue Him with all that you have so that others will see the Light shining through you.

John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Romans 12:1-2.  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Paul’s image of the believer’s spiritual armor in Ephesians 6:10-17 clearly suggests the activity of warfare. And warfare suggests there will be captives. But in spiritual warfare, there are no physical conflicts or captives. Indeed, Paul says elsewhere that our battles are not in the physical realm as worldly battles are (2 Corinthians 10:3). So whom or what are we fighting? And whom or what do we take captive in order to win?

It has been rightly suggested that spiritual warfare takes place “between the ears.” That is, in the mind. That’s where history’s first spiritual battle took place. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had to weigh Satan’s words against God’s words and make a choice—the activity of the mind. They should have done what Paul says we should do: take “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). We must weigh every thought. If it is a lie, or dishonoring to God, we capture that thought and subdue it with the truths of God’s Word.

We can only find victorious freedom by knowing God’s truth (John 8:32).

Every good [spiritual] warrior constantly asks himself this question: What does the Bible say about this?

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4

In his first epistle, the apostle John had a lot of say about the devil. He wrote to his churches, telling them they had overcome the wicked one (2:13). The devil, he said, has “sinned from the beginning” and tempts others to do the same, but Jesus came to “destroy the works of the devil” (3:8).

John wrote, “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (5:19). The One in us—Jesus Christ—is greater than he who dominates the world.

Satan may be a prince, a ruler, and the god of this world, but his power is limited, and his abilities can never match God’s omnipotence. Through Christ, we have overcome the devil, we are of God, and we belong to Him who is greater than Satan by far.

Let’s live like overcomers—unafraid, unintimidated, victorious. Be thankful Satan has limitations and our infinite God knows how to protect us from all evil.

God would not throw us into the conflict if He did not also give us the resources needed to stand against the enemy.

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4

In his first epistle, the apostle John had a lot of say about the devil. He wrote to his churches, telling them they had overcome the wicked one (2:13). The devil, he said, has “sinned from the beginning” and tempts others to do the same, but Jesus came to “destroy the works of the devil” (3:8).

John wrote, “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (5:19). The One in us—Jesus Christ—is greater than he who dominates the world.

Satan may be a prince, a ruler, and the god of this world, but his power is limited, and his abilities can never match God’s omnipotence. Through Christ, we have overcome the devil, we are of God, and we belong to Him who is greater than Satan by far.

Let’s live like overcomers—unafraid, unintimidated, victorious. Be thankful Satan has limitations and our infinite God knows how to protect us from all evil.

God would not throw us into the conflict if He did not also give us the resources needed to stand against the enemy.

Lam 3:19-27  Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.  It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

Life is hard. As much as we want to avoid the pain of loss, health struggles, family dysfunction and more, the reality is that we live in a fallen and broken world. Even as we call upon Jesus as Savior, we are not immune to sorrow.

Sometimes, we bring pain upon ourselves through our own actions and choices, bearing the consequences of our sin. Other times, we suffer the scars of somebody else’s bad decisions, struggling through life due to something that was out of our control. And then, there is the pain that we endure simply as a byproduct of living in broken vessels during our time on earth.

If you are currently struggling, perhaps you can find some solace and strength in the prophet Jeremiah’s descriptions of God in the book of Lamentations. A little backstory: Due to the sin of the Israelites, God had used Babylon to bring His judgment on the land. Pain, sorrow and desperation were everywhere. Jerusalem lay in desolate ruins.

With this in mind, Jeremiah cried out to God, revealing a few truths about God’s nature.

First, God is faithful concerning His judgment (Lamentations 3:19-20). The people of God had sinned and they refused to repent, and God’s righteousness would not allow that to continue. God is a righteous judge—He must punish sin. Therefore, God sent the Babylonians to destroy Jerusalem, which brought great affliction.

Today, we live in a culture that celebrates sin, even within the church (in some cases). We pretend that sin doesn’t matter.

We should never think that we can escape God’s judgment, however. It may seem like we’re getting away with something for a time, but God is faithful concerning His judgment.

Second, God is faithful concerning His mercy (Lamentations 3:21-24). In these verses, Jeremiah focuses on three of the attributes of the Lord. Jeremiah says that God is:

• Merciful. This is also translated lovingkindness, great love and steadfast love.
• Compassionate. This is the same word used for the womb; just as a mother shows compassion to her own children, the Lord shows compassion to His children.
• Faithful. He is unchanging, as in a rock. The storms may come, but the rock is firm, strong and unmovable.

As Jeremiah focused on these attributes of the Lord, he responded by saying, “The Lord is my portion.” This phrase refers back to Numbers 18:20 when the Lord told Aaron that he would not have any land as an inheritance because the Lord would be his portion.

And now, as Jeremiah looked out over the destruction of Jerusalem, there was nothing left. There was only the Lord, the One who remained permanent in the midst of change.

Finally, God is faithful in His goodness (Lamentations 3:25-27). The Lord is good to those who wait upon Him and hope in Him, recognizing that the problems of the world will not last forever and that nothing can pervert or change God’s purposes. The Lord is good to those who humble themselves before Him, realizing that He is ultimately in control of our lives and destiny (and we are not).

Jeremiah recognized these things, which made it possible for him to see the bigger picture of why his present suffering was taking place. It gave him a faith-filled hope moving forward.

My friends, we live in a world that is constantly changing and full of sorrow. Many of you are probably struggling with something even now.

As you travel through the dark valley of grief and pain, I pray that you will take Jeremiah’s words to heart. Focus on the full view of God’s judgment, mercy and goodness, recognizing that He is in control and He is faithful. Cling to the promise and find peace in understanding that “the Lord is my portion.”

Col 1:21  And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,

There is no good news unless you understand the bad news. (Sin) What you believe about sin determines what you believe about salvation. And Paul didn’t mince words. He wrote, “You were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds” (v. 21). You cannot fully appreciate what Jesus has done for you until you understand the desperate condition we are all in apart from Christ.

We don’t normally look at our own sin. We usually turn a blind eye to it. We look at ourselves as doing good or for good reasons. We justify our thoughts, words, and actions and don’t give a second thought about whether they are in line with God’s Word or if they honor and glorify Jesus Christ.

If we are a believer we hear much about the GOOD NEWS of and through Jesus Christ. Redemption, Salvation, Forgiveness, and Eternal Life. And we should not only hear this but proclaim it. The problem arises in that we don’t think or talk about “SIN” in the believer.

We are justified by and through faith in the sacrifice, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sins. However, there is also the gift of the Holy Spirit to indwell us. The Holy Spirit will lead, guide, encourage, convict, and grow and mature us. This growing and maturing is called sanctification. It begins the minute we become believers, “born again”.

We grow and mature as we are in His Word with a heart that seeks and desires to know more and more of what pleases God so that in all thoughts, words, and actions we will honor and glorify Jesus Christ.

Neglecting God’s Word will not grow or mature us. We will remain a baby in not only God’s Word but in the things of God too.

Our sinful nature can only be understood through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit opening our hearts and minds to the wonder of it. It will expose sin if we seek to know the condition of our hearts and minds.

If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

–1 Timothy 5:8

Work, making a living, and providing for one’s immediate family and extended family is commanded by God. It is out of our Love of God that sacrificial support is given. In this love God is honored and glorified. In this love not only are we blessed but others others are blessed too. 

Wisdom is needed in all giving. 

If you have a family member, extended family member, or member of your congregation who is able to work but chooses not to, it is not wise to support them in this laziness. In this case, we can offer a job or help them find a job, but not give them money.

If a family member is living outside their means and is spending money foolishly without regard for tomorrow, it is not wise to support them in this foolishness. We can counsel and give advice on how to live within means, but not give them money.

If a family member is spending money to support an addiction, it is not wise to support the addiction in any form other than rehabilitation. 

It is easy to see laziness and addiction support are foolish for a person to consider. Yet, I think too often the worldly view of “Needs” and what it deems as worthwhile cloud the judgments and spending habits of far too many people. We live in a time when “credit score” means I can borrow more money because I am a good risk for paying it back. I don’t know how all of this “credit score” stuff came about but it is driving people to spend borrowed money in ways that are we are not intended to live for. What drives this spending other than “you can borrow money” to buy something you cannot afford by saving for it? Instead of saving for it and then purchasing what we can afford, we are enticed to buy “Now” and pay back later. We have a good credit score.  You can get a credit card or multiple cards because you have a good credit score. You can buy now and pay back later, you’re a good risk.  Don’t get me wrong, there are times when something comes up that requires us to find a way to pay for a repair or medical procedure or something along those lines. However, spending because I can borrow is being driven by those who make money off of convincing you to spend now and pay back later. 

The world says this is the way to live and enjoy worldly pleasures now rather than not. Search engines and pop-up adds and the easy way to purchase on-line have made spending so easy and foolish. First, they say you need it, it is easy to get it, and just point and click your way to satisfaction and it will be delivered to your door. You did not even know you wanted it but they have convinced you of not only the need but you really need to buy it to be satisfied. You are worth it after all. 

How many people can come up with $500 to $1,000 per month for 5 years to buy a car but cannot discipline themselves to save the money first and then buy it? It looks a lot different when you pull $50,000 out of your bank account in one lump sum to buy a car than $500 to $1,000 per month.  What kind of car would you buy if you had to pay cash? How much would you truly buy if it were not for the internet enticing, convincing, and stimulating you to buy? 

What kind of example are we as “Christians” being when we, like the rest of the world, are living like this? How much help can we be to those in need when we are spending money from the future to support our whims now? How much looking will I do those in need when I strap myself to debt? How can I help family members in need when I have consumed all I make on myself? What kind of love is it that thinks of self first? What kind of love is it that limits their ability to give because of self-worthy spending? How is God honored in self-spending? How is God glorified in being indebted to others? The world sees nothing wrong with this because it is consumed with self-interest, self-worthiness, and giving no thought to honoring or glorifying God. 

There is much that could be said about self-spending, budgeting, and living within means, but let us leave it at this – God expects us to be cheerful givers, provide for our families, and be generous with what He has blessed us with.  When our blessings are being used only for self, how is God honored or glorified? Do we think that a new boat, new car, new home, new kitchen, new furniture, exciting vacation, latest fashion clothes, etc…. gets us closer to serving those in need or becoming more and more generous? 

Take a look at how your money is being spent.

The world wants you to spend and think of self.

God wants you to give and be prepared to give with a generous heart and mind.