Daily Devotion

“Christians are not the masters of the world, but rather stewards temporarily entrusted to it by God. When we let go of 'possession,' we truly learn to use things freely, manage them humbly, and not collapse when we lose them.”

John Stott · The Cross of Christ in Our Time

Scripture

1 Peter 2:11 Dear friends, as strangers and exiles, I urge you to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

Reflection

Peter reminds us that we are sojourners and temporary residents, which is not a denigration of this life, but a correction of our position. Sojourners use the world without being bound by it; only those who settle place their security in possessions, relationships, and achievements. When I forget that I am merely passing through, I become anxious about loss, proud of what I have, and more easily succumb to the desires of the flesh. Recognizing my identity as a "stranger" teaches me to let go, to practice self-control, and to re-place my hope in eternity.