Remember Who We Are #25

As Peter wrote to persecuted Christians- especially those of Jewish background- he sought to encourage them by helping them remember who they were in Christ:

11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Peter refers to them as sojourners and exiles.  The Jewish people had a long history of both. Abraham and the other Patriarchs roamed all over the ancient Middle East with their flocks and herds, aiming to settle down there, but never staying too long.  As a nation, Israel spent a long time in Egypt and again in Exile. They knew what it was like.  But this journey and wandering were far deeper: their citizenship was in heaven, and they were living in a pagan culture.  So how were they, and how are we, to live in such a society? Focused on holiness, keeping our conduct pure and honorable, so that when false accusations are made against us, there is no evidence to support them.  People need to be able to look on us almost as aliens - as different and recognizable and a breath of fresh air in a polluted world. Just be like Jesus.