Different Devotional Day 3

These are my thoughts and favorite lines from the @YouVersion plan 'Different'.

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Peter wanted the early Christians, and all Christians, to know this world, as it is, is not our home. We are different. We are strangers passing through. This world may be our current location, but we have a different destination.

Our marriages are different, our calling is different, our morals are different, our appearances are different, our response to suffering is different, our words are different, and our families are different. Why? We are different, not because of our location, but because of our destination. You may live in the place you were born, but if you follow Christ, you’re a foreigner in the world.

Questions

As you read 1 Peter chapter 3, consider how your destination should affect your direction.

Having an eternal mind set helps to keep the right perspective. But it is daily and for me moment by moment intentional choice and practice. Does my marriage point my spouse, my family, and my friends toward God?

I hope so. We are both continuing to learn, live, and obey God. We have struggles and seasons that are more difficult than others but we know the work and effort is worth it. Being open and allowing for relationships with others creates space to share our life and for others to share theirs. This openness is how our marriage and others marriages can point each other towards God.

Do my conversations, favorite shows, and gut-level reactions look like I’m headed toward God? My conversations don’t always but I’m getting better at reigning them in. I struggle more so with the imaginary conversations. You know the ones in your head or ones you replay or scenarios you create/imagine and think how you would react or what you’d say. These used to get me all the time but now that I am aware I do my best to stop them. As far as shows this area has been a combined effort between Ross and I to actively set boundaries. We are continuing to tweak this area as needed.

Now gut level reactions are an area I struggle with due to those imaginary conversations I explained above. But it is also an area I’m hyper aware of so I try really hard to stop before I say or do anything. Especially when my emotions are intense. I’m not always successful but I’m definitely making progress. I’m just grateful becoming like Christ is not an over night expectation but life long process with ups and down.

Do I work, spend money, and lead like someone who’s following Jesus home?

Again this is another area we are learning and tweaking as needed. But from where we started to where we are now we have seen tremendous growth. Especially in the area of saving, budget goals, tithes, and offerings. This was a whole lot of conversations in our first few years of marriage. For us it has been important to take care of others not just monetarily but with how we spend our time, energy, etc. Whatever community we are in our goal has been to serve and help where we see a need but also take care of each other and our children. Creating boundaries where needed, setting schedules, routines, etc. But also allowing flexibility to be available when and if needed.

In general, do I look more like my location or my destination?

I know I am becoming more God kingdom minded and eternity focused. So yes but there is more work to be done in this area. There is always room for more growth.