S) "7 and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men 8 (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds),"
2 Peter 2:7-8 (NASB)
O) Peter's concern in this chapter, is primarily about apostasy in the church. He refers back to an elemental point about the story of Lot (who knew the righteousness of God, given because of faith, that was with his uncle Abraham). Lot was living in Sodom, just before its destruction. While he made his own mistakes, the above passage shows us that his struggle against their sin was a very heavy burden. It was a daily struggle to not conform. He was tormented by the society in which he lived. It is notable that it was both what he saw and heard. He was inundated by their sins, ever exposed to their evil, and unable to escape (until he had angelic help).
A) There are some parallels between Sodom and Gomorrah and today's society, but I can't pretend it is the same as it was. For one thing, our current humanity is simply not as brutal as it used to be. Daily tasks are just not as hard. There are societal normalcies that have made things better, like employment laws, accountability in government, and (genuine) journalism. The one thing that is strikingly similar, and will only get worse: the publicity of sin. I feel inundated by the sins of the society around me. I am ever exposed to evil, seeing it and hearing it at every turn. There is no escape available. I cannot isolate or insulate myself. My only hope is the external, heavenly help. Thankfully, I don't need angelic help, because of the indwelling Holy Spirit. But, like Lot, I must concede that I cannot hold a white-knuckled grip on righteousness forever. I must rely wholly on Jesus to see me through.
P) Father, the faithful grace You have given me is humbling and amazing. I feel afflicted by the sins around me, feeling like I am under attack by society's sins trying to pry their way into my life. It's unavoidable, the external temptations that surround me. My only help will come from You. I have only one hope, and it's the Holy Spirit that is within me. Strengthen me, provide the way of righteousness through the garbage that surrounds me. Let Your will prevail in my life. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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