1 Peter 2:11: Beloved, I Urge You As Sojourners And Exiles To Abstain From The Passions Of The Flesh, Which Wage War Against Your Soul.

1 Peter 2:11

[11] Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. (ESV)

The first word in this verse is very important. Peter is about to give a word of instruction concerning how we are to live our lives. He will admonish the believers in Jesus Christ to abstain from sinful behaviors. Notice, that he starts by telling them that he loves them. This is significant. The Apostle is not condemning them in anger. He is admonishing them in love.

Our Heavenly Father loves us. When he establishes guidelines and boundaries for us it is always for our ultimate blessing and good. I am so thankful that the Lord knows that we are weak. He knows that the enemy of our souls is active every moment, trying to destroy us. He lovingly reminds us to follow him and to walk in the ways that he has for us.

Peter reminds us that we are sojourners and exiles. You may be reading this and have a hard time with the thought that you are a foreigner. Maybe you have lived in the same house for 70 years! Foreigner? Allow the Apostle Peter to remind you that you are a foreigner. You live in a world that has a value system that is in rebellion to God. The old song says, "This world is not my home. I'm only passing through!"

These passions of the flesh that Peter speaks of are at war with us. We would be right to think of sexual lusts and immorality as fitting what Peter describes here. Other passions of the flesh are at work, also. Consider greed, pursuit of power, fits of rage, malice, jealousy, demanding one's way, gossiping, and other sins as also fitting the description of "passions of the flesh." See Galatians 5:19-21.

Your loving father wants you to walk in righteousness. Confess your sins to him. He lovingly will forgive you through Christ. Ask his Holy Spirit to help you to walk in righteousness.