1 Peter - Following Jesus Sample

Who do you listen to? We are surrounded by people who want our attention: people in our families; people in politics; people in the media. How do you choose which voices you will pay attention to and trust?

Why should we listen to Peter, a man who lived so long ago and far away? The answer is in the very first few words of his letter: Peter is ‘an apostle of Jesus Christ’.

An ‘apostle’ is a person who has been sent by another to speak and act for them. Peter had been given authority by the Lord Jesus and sent out to speak for him. So the words of this letter are what Jesus himself wants to say to his followers! We need to listen up! 

• The way Peter describes his readers is also very significant. What is the first thing Peter says about these Christians (v. 1)?

‘Elect’ is another word for chosen. In an election you choose the person you want. To be a Christian is to be one of God’s chosen ones. That is a very great privilege.

• But how else does Peter describe these believers here?

These believers are wanted by God. They often feel unwanted though by the unbelievers they live amongst. It is hard to feel at home amongst people who reject Jesus. As Christians we can often feel like outsiders. You probably know something of how that feels.

Peter’s readers aren’t even all together as one people. At the moment they are scattered all over the ancient near east. But these believers are exiles or strangers in this world because they belong somewhere else. They feel the pain of being a scattered minority now because one day God will gather all his people together into one community. That day is coming.

For now though, to be a Christian is to be an exile, a stranger in the world. How will they, and we, cope with the stress that can bring? When we feel rejected by those around us, we need to hold on to the fact that God himself has chosen us. There is great strength and great reassurance in knowing that. Keep it in your mind today. 

Pray

Ask God to help you to remember that he has chosen you to belong to him, especially when you feel like an exile, a stranger in the world.