[11] “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage 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.” — 1 Peter 2:11 - 12 NIV
Sin has been an issue in many lives. Many are applying every possible human strategy to reduce it in societies. That’s why disciplinary institutions like prisons, the law court and schools still exist. Nevertheless, all these things have proven futile since evil has been on the rise each day in the world.
The real solution to sin is Jesus. And that’s one of the reasons why He was manifested in the world – to destroy the works of the devil (see John 1:29, 1 John 3:8).
Today, if you’re saved, Jesus Christ, the person of grace and Truth (see John 1:14) lives in you (see 2 Corinthians 13:5). So you have all the divine empowerment inside you to live unto God without any trace of sin in your life. Furthermore, you’ve received divine enablement to abstain from sinful desires because of two main reasons.
- God has made you a foreigner in this world.
- You’re God’s slave.
A foreigner in a country doesn’t have access to live any haphazard life in that country. In the embassy, the laws of that land don’t even apply to him. So since you’re a foreigner in the world, living unto God in consecration is a kingdom privilege.
Living unto God in consecration is a kingdom privilege.
You’re in the world but not of the world. You’re of God and as such, a foreigner in the world. So if this world is evil (see Galatians 1:4), then evil deeds shouldn’t flow from or through you because the God in you has no association with deeds of darkness (see 1 John 1:5).
Secondly, you’re God’s slave. A slave is a person who’s owned by someone else. God purchased you by the blood of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 6:20). He’s your Lord, so you owe allegiance to Him alone.
But the good news is that God is good. Even though He’s your Father and Master, He is loving and caring. He knows sin can destroy you. That’s why He has provided whatever you need to live in abstinence to it. Use that privilege by the empowerment of the Spirit.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for the grace to abstain from sinful desires. By Your empowerment, I choose to remain conscious of the Truth that I’m free to live unto You. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Devotional Code: KGD – 2023 – 245
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