Where do you belong?
Tags: Security, Jesus, Devotional, Christian, Aliens

Devotional based upon 1 Peter 1:1–2

“To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.”

Follower of Christ, where do you belong?

The pioneer and perfecter of faith, Jesus well understood where He belonged and to whom. He told one follower that He had not a place to lay His head (Luke 9:58). He told Pilate that His Kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). If His place is not in this world, and if we belong to Him, then neither is our place in this world. As soon as we sign our lives over to Christ and he adopts us as heirs, we become refugees — travelers and aliens on this Earth.

Yet, it is easy to lose sight of this fact and expend enormous amounts of time, energy and resources on earthly things that do not matter in the heavenly realms. Jesus pointed out this error in the parable about the man who had been blessed with such abundance that he decided to build bigger barns in which to hoard his wealth. “You fool!” God said, “This very night your life will be demanded from you!” (Luke 12:20). For those who are secure and wealthy, the idea of losing earthly treasure is uncomfortable and unwanted. Who wants to be poor? Who wants to be persecuted and rejected? But Jesus said that blessed are those who are poor, who mourn, who are persecuted for righteousness sake. Blessed!!

On the other hand, for those who do not enjoy security or wealth, our heavenly position as strangers is a blessed reassurance that our worldly home is not intended to be heaven on earth. It is imperfect and fleeting. Peter reminded the recipients of this letter of both realities. To those who had been expelled from their homes due to persecution, Peter reminded them that they were chosen by God and have a home in Him. To those still resident and comfortable in their communities, Peter reminded them that their true status is not as citizens of this earth, but as aliens with a home yet to come.

It is important to point out that some of the persecution of the early Christian communities came not from Rome, but from God’s Holy people who had misunderstood or forgotten these points. Israel’s leaders had a comfortable, though tenuous existence despite being under the dominion of the Roman Empire. Israel enjoyed a level of autonomy that the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law were terrified they would lose. Israel’s leaders were also terrified that they would lose their comfortable lifestyles and places of honor among the people should Rome take more of their rights and freedoms away. The foundation of their faith was no longer God Himself, but rather their ability to hold onto their national existence. This led the collective leadership to firmly squash any potential upheaval or uprising which could bring the ire and attention of the Empire. High Priest Caiaphas stated in reference to the uproar caused by Jesus that it was “better that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish” (John 11:50), and so they began to strive to kill Jesus in order to save their security. They lost sight of their status as sojourners and aliens in this land, and would resort to conspiracy and murder to keep hold of their earthly treasure. The Chosen People through whom God intended to bless the nations of the world, were suddenly by and large no earthly good.

But are we Christians in the 21st century any better?

Christian, are you expending all your energy on your earthly home, status and wealth at the expense of your heavenly inheritance? Are your sheep malnourished for the sake of your pride? Have you forgotten that nothing you have on this earth truly belongs to you, but rather is gifted to you from the Father in order to do good works that He has planned for you to do? Have you even gone so far from the truth that you are willing to commit ungodly acts in order to maintain hold of your “rights” and your comfortable lifestyle? Will you lie and bear false witness? Will you tear down others — at times in God’s own Name — to protect your “freedoms”? Heaven forbid! For “if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the desires of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and pride in possessions — is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15–17)

For what is the purpose of the saving sprinkling of the blood of Christ and the sanctification of the Spirit, if not obedience to God for His purposes? For we are chosen for obedience — not to the law, but to Jesus who fulfilled the law and gave us the new commandment to love one another. Peter prayed for an overabundance of grace and peace to be given through the work of the Spirit to the Christian itinerants in these regions . . . all for obedience to Him. And what is this obedience? To love our brothers, yes — and to care for the orphan and widow and keep ourselves from the world’s defilement. If our focus is on maintaining our comfortable lifestyle, it is difficult to demonstrate love to our brother who is in need, much less the widow or orphan unknown to us (but known to God) whom God has placed in our paths in order for us to bless them with the gifts God has given us for just that purpose! Indeed, the world strives for possessions, pride and places of honor. If we Christians do the same, we are defiled. We become bland salt and dim light that is good for very little.

Christian, in accordance with how you are living your life — where do you belong? Are you working to store up treasures in heaven or here on earth where rust, moth and fire destroy? Have you become defiled by the ways of the world? If so, fall to your knees before God and ask for His forgiveness and His power to cleanse your lamp so that His light will shine forth strong and true.

Questions for meditation / discussion:

For what treasure have you been striving? Heavenly or worldly? On what do you spend most of your money? And your time? If God came to you in a dream and told you to move to a third world country, or an inner city, or rural America to be a missionary, what would be the most difficult things for you to give up? Why?

Heavenly Father, thank You for the great many gifts you give us, and the even greater eternal promises on which we can rely! Thank You that we can rest, trusting in Your security and Your providence. Please, Father, forgive us for losing focus and becoming preoccupied with our earthly treasures, cares and struggles. Forgive our lack of trust in You. Draw us nearer to You, we pray. Let our eyes and efforts remain in You all of our days. Amen.