Last 5 Days
The Believer's Home
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time[a] the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
Peter wrote to the “elect exiles”. The term speaks of those chosen by God who are scattered in different places because of persecution. It is descriptive of Christians who are supposed to be like aliens living in a foreign place and hoping to return to their own homes. This world is not their home. Thus, we must not plant our feet too deep on earth because we have an imperishable inheritance. One that is “undefiled and unfading” kept and guarded by God in heaven (verses 3-5). We are destined for our eternal home because Christ had saved us from the penalty of sin in which Peter praised God for saving us.
However, the joy of their salvation was short-lived as they are persecuted and scattered for their faith. Persecution is a test to prove our faith is genuine. It is like gold being purified by fire except our faith is more precious than gold. After the purification process, it will bring “praise and glory and honor” to God (verses 6-7). Peter praised God for their love and faith in the Lord. They accepted it joyous without having seen or met Jesus before (verses 8-9). It was not a privilege given to the prophets who “long to look” but to us. Instead, it was given to them through those who preached the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit.
In view of this privilege, we must not take our salvation for granted. The inheritance we have is much more worthy. So, let us not try to stop the purification process as it will prove to others and to God that our faith is genuine. For it is Jesus alone who saves us so we must always follow Jesus, in difficult or easy times as this world is not our home, we are just passing through.
Prayer: Purify me, O Lord, like gold so I may be found to be truly living a holy life and being a faithful witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. I will press on with the help and strength of the Holy Spirit of those who preached the gospel. I will not try to “escape” from the purifying process. This world is not my home, I am just passing through, Amen!