Evang Ps. Kenneth Nandoha
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
1 Peter 2:11
Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Simon Peter through his preaching to the Jewish people he was telling them to beware of the lust of the flesh not only the Jewish people but this applies even unto the gentiles today because for in the eyes of the Lord who wishes for us to enter into His Kingdom, these desires may pull us further away from the possibilities of a richer, fuller spiritual life in His embrace.
The sin here is not lusting directly, but rather the dangers are distracting us from seeking the true ecstasy of everlasting life, by tying us to earthly desires. These desires are natural things placed there by God for us to spread and multiply His word, however, in order for this to be done must find love first. For without love, desires turn to lust and this lust leads to death as Romans 6:23 says “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among those to whom you are reflected upon, that when they speak against you as an evildoer, they may by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of his visitation.
Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls, The Christ Jesus.
Today’s Prayer:
Dear God almighty, my guiding grace in this world, help me in controlling my earthly desires. Allow me not to succumb to temptation, and draw my spirit back unto the righteous path of Your everlasting life should I stray. For I wish to always and forever labor under Your light. Amen.