Our Bibles are full of the stories of people who found themselves far from home at times.
Abraham and Sarah. Joseph. Moses. Naomi and Ruth. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Ezekiel. Esther. Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Paul, Barnabas, John Mark, and Silas. Even Jesus himself.
The reason we know their names? The truths they carried when they were far from home.
Maybe you also are far from home as a college student, easing your way into the new world of independent adulthood. Maybe work is taking you far from home this week. Maybe you’re newly married and adjusting to life in a new state or country. Maybe you go to school or work across town but the environment and people around you make it feel as if you’re far from home. Whatever the case, here are twelve truths to carry when you’re far from home.
1. Aim here: the glory of God.
Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Cor 10:31)
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 5:14-16)
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 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. (1 Pet 2:11-12)
2. Get wisdom.
Get wisdom; get insight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her. (Prov 4:5-8)
3. Pursue discipleship.
“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40)
So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. (1 Thes 2:8)
4. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus.
“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (1 Tim 6:17-19)
5. Whatever you do, remember whose you are.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Cor 6:19-20)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:10)
6. Exercise self-control.
A man without self-control
is like a city broken into and left without walls. (Prov 25:28)
Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. (Prov 16:32)
[Paul] reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment… (Acts 24:25)
7. Neither location nor circumstance changes the nature of sin.
“How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Gen 39:9)
8. Don’t be afraid to confuse the world.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Rom 12:1-2)
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (1 Pet 4:1-5)
…in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect… (1 Pet 3:15)
9. Fight to find your joy in God above anything and anyone else.
Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.
Trust in the LORD, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psa 37:1-4)
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matt 6:24)
“Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.” (Isa 55:2)
“My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” (John 4:34)
10. Work hard.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Col 3:23-24)
11. Focus your greatest energy and zeal on what will endure.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt 6:19-21)
12. Earnestly guard your heart.
Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life. (Prov 4:23)
Listen to or watch the sermon, presented on August 25, 2024.