Daily Devotionals

Believe It Or Not Week 5: Monday

Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.1 Peter 2:11 (NIV, 1984)

I was never one to love movies or books about aliens. They just did not interest me, and honestly, they frightened me a little bit growing up. There is one exception, however. I have been fascinated by what Peter says about aliens in 1 Peter 2:11. You see, Peter writes in this chapter that followers of Christ are called to essentially be like aliens living on this earth and that ultimately, this earth is not our home.

Peter reminds readers that we were not created for this world in 1 Peter 2. He writes, “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.” (verse 11). Some Bible translations say “temporary residents” instead of aliens. What Peter is trying to make clear is that this life on earth is temporary. Not only this, but the things of this world are temporary, too. Try as we might to make a home here on earth. We will always come short because we were not made for this earth. We were created for eternal life with Christ. 

In light of this truth that we are only aliens or “temporary residents and foreigners” in this world, Peter issues a warning. “abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul,” he writes (verse 11). This warning calls for all of us to stop living for the things of this world that are temporary and look to Christ instead. After all, the things of this earth are fading away and will never last. God’s kingdom lasts forever. Therefore, may you and I seek to focus each day on the Kingdom of God, which will never fade away. As C.S. Lewis said, “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”

Moving Toward Action

1 Peter 2:11 is a great reminder when we feel like outcasts or do not fit in. It is a reminder to us when we focus more on the temporary things of this earth that we were not created for this world. Spend some time now memorizing this verse. As you memorize this verse, set your sights on God and His kingdom, which is far greater than even the most beautiful, grand place on this earth.  

Going Deeper

1 Peter 2:1-11 (NLT)

So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.

And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say,

“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,

chosen for great honor,

and anyone who trusts in him

will never be disgraced.”

Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him,

“The stone that the builders rejected

has now become the cornerstone.”

And,

“He is the stone that makes people stumble,

the rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

“Once you had no identity as a people;

now you are God’s people.

Once you received no mercy;

now you have received God’s mercy.”

Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.