Citizens of Earth

 

PRAY THAT THE SPIRIT WOULD REVEAL TO YOU HOW HOPE AND FAITH IN GOD SHOULD FURTHER TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE. 

 

 Read 1 Peter 1:10-2.  Reflect on 1 Peter 1:17-21.

 

If you’ve lived in a dorm, a foreign country, or temporary residence, you know what it means to feel out of place.  Christian life can often be a lot like that-filled with the sense of “I don’t belong here.”  We are temporary residents here on Earth until Jesus comes back and heaven shows up.  How are we to conduct ourselves while we wait (1:17)?

 

Read Isaiah 53:10-12 and Luke 23.  How were we redeemed from our “futile life” (1 Peter 1:18-19)?  Since God has redeemed us, we can know that he believes in us and our potential to change our world.  He has hope for humanity and where it can go.  Instead of asking, “What do I believe?” we should say, “God believes in me; how then shall I respond?”

 

Read John 1:1-4.  In what way was Jesus foreknown (1 Peter 1:20)?  Through Christ, we find the ability for all things, including having faith (1:21), Jesus, as one resurrected from the dead, provides the way for us; in him, we have faith and hope-but not just faith and hope in general terms.  Specifically, we have faith and hope placed in the very person of God.  Jesus reconnects us-finite, sinful beings-with our Creator.

 

In what ways are you living purely as a citizen of this earth?  How can you live more fully as a citizen of heaven who cares about this earth?  How can you enhance your experience in this temporary residence by remembering the country to which you belong and its king-Jesus himself?

 

Reflect and pray through these questions throughout your week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bible Study Magazine