2 Peter 2:7-8 KJV And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
Vexed
B1 English (Source)
To irritate; to make angry by little provocations
To plague; to torment; to harass; to afflict.
To disturb; to disquiet; to agitate.
B2 Greek (Source)
C1 καταπονέω kataponéō
C2 It means to tire down with toil, exhaust with labor; hence, to afflict or oppress with evils; to make trouble for; to treat roughly
C3 It is used 2 times in the New Testament
D1 Acts 7:24 WEL Seeing one of them suffer, he defended [him], avenged him who was harassed, and fatally hit the Egyptian.
D2 2 Peter 2:7-8 NLT But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. 8 Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day.
There are other verses describing how Christians grieve at the increase of sin.
B1 Ezekiel 9:4 NLT He said to him, “Walk through the streets of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of all who weep and sigh because of the detestable sins being committed in their city.”
B2 Philippians 3:18 NLT For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
Much of this comes from a different worldview and mission in life.
B1 Contrast in actions: Galatians 5:19-25 EMTV Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are: adultery, fornication, immorality, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envies, murders, drinking bouts, revelries, and the like; which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control—against such things there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
B2 Life mission is different, also
C1 Christian
D1 Fellowship with God, which includes prayer, Bible reading, assembling with one another, etc. 1 John 1:3 GNB92 What we have seen and heard we announce to you also, so that you will join with us in the fellowship that we have with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
D2 Serve Jesus, which is outlined in Scripture.
E1 John 12:26 EMTV And if anyone serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant shall be also. If anyone serve Me, him My Father will honor.
E2 Bare fruit of the spirit as seen in our Galatians passage above. (John 15:8)
E3 Be obviously a Christian with a corresponding life and words in private and public. Matthew 5:16 EMTV Thus let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works, and they may glorify your Father who is in heaven. Light has no darkness thus signifying purity, truth, honesty, and the communicable character traits exemplified by the life of the Lord Jesus. See here for example.
D3 Christians should write their own personal mission and life statement. For one example: My mission is to preach and live the Gospel, defend the faith (apologetics), and serve God every moment of my life. (This is mine).
C2 Non-Christian
D1 Some choose fellowship with demons: 1 Corinthians 10:20-21 NRSV No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.
D2 Some love doing evil things (things contrary to the 10 Commandments, for an example), love lies, etc. John 8:44 NLT For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.
D3 Some choose to love their life in this world, rather than focusing on the next. John 12:25 NLT Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.
D4 Some choose to love lies.
E1 2 Thessalonians 2:10 NLT He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.
E2 Revelation 22:15 NLT Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.
D5 Some choose to love money. 1 Timothy 6:10 NLT For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
D6 Some choose themselves to supremely love. 2 Timothy 3:2 NLT For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.
How to keep our focus on being steadfast and faithful
B1 God’s promises
C1 Never abandon us. Hebrews 13:5 GNB Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.
C2 Never stop loving us. Romans 8:38-39 GNB For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, 39 neither the world above nor the world below—there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.
C3 Never stop helping us. John 16:7 GNB But I am telling you the truth: it is better for you that I go away, because if I do not go, the Helper will not come to you. But if I do go away, then I will send him to you.
C4 Never cancel His promise to come for us. John 14:3 NLT When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
C5 Never stop protecting us. Jude 1:24-25 NLT Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. 25 All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.
C6 He will protect us. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 NLT But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
C7 He will provide a way out of temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
C8 He will grant us faith. Philippians 4:7 NRSV And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
C9 He will remember His mercy. Psalms 40:11 GNB LORD, I know you will never stop being merciful to me. Your love and loyalty will always keep me safe.
C10 He will always recognize our service, even if no one else does. Psalms 40:11 GNB LORD, I know you will never stop being merciful to me. Your love and loyalty will always keep me safe.
C11 He cannot lie. Hebrews 6:18 NLT So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
C12 He has given us hope. Hebrews 6:19 NLT This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.
C13 He will help us in our prayers. Romans 8:26 NLT And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
C14 Jesus prays for us. Romans 8:34 NLT Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
C15 He has given us joy. 1 Peter 1:8 NLT You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.
C16 He has given us truth. John 8:32 NLT And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
C17 He has given us a standard of truth. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
C18 He has justified us and given us peace with God. Romans 5:1 NIV Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
C19 He allows us to make mistakes and suffer trials for a purpose. Romans 5:3-4 NLT We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.
C20 He has given us a family of fellow believers to help and encourage each other. Mark 10:28-30 NLT Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said. 29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.
None of us are perfect. There are many trials, as Jesus has warned us.
We have hope of help, fellowship, and promises of deliverance. Yeshua is always our Messiah.
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