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Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.
Peter writes to believers who are “elect exiles”—chosen by God, yet scattered in a world that doesn’t fully feel like home (vv. 1–2). Their salvation is the work of the triune God: the Father set His covenant love on them beforehand, the Spirit set them apart as God’s holy people, and the Son brought them into the covenant through His cleansing blood (v. 2; cf. Exodus 24:3–8). Because of God’s great mercy, they have been born again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus—an unbreakable future inheritance that cannot perish, stain, or fade, guarded in heaven while God also guards them by His power through faith until that salvation is fully revealed when Christ returns (vv. 3–5).
That sure hope doesn’t erase suffering, but it changes what suffering means. Trials are real and painful, yet temporary, and God uses them like fire that refines gold—proving faith genuine and preparing believers for praise, glory, and honor at Jesus’s revelation (vv. 6–7). Even without seeing Jesus now, Christians love Him, trust Him, and rejoice with a joy that is deeper than circumstances because the gospel is already bringing them toward the “outcome” God promised—full salvation (vv. 8–9). This salvation was the long-awaited plan of God: the prophets searched and spoke of the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow, and now, by the Holy Spirit, that good news has been announced to us—so amazing that even angels long to look into it (vv. 10–12).
Because this future grace is certain, Peter calls believers to live like who they are in Christ. They must set their hope fully on Christ’s return, fight the old desires of former ignorance, and pursue holiness because their Father is holy (vv. 13–16; cf. Leviticus 19:2). And they should walk with reverent fear—not dread, but awe and seriousness—because they were ransomed from empty ways not with silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ, the spotless Lamb planned before the foundation of the world and revealed “for your sake” (vv. 17–21; cf. Exodus 12, Isaiah 53:7, John 1:29). Having been born again through God’s living, abiding word, Christians are to love one another earnestly from a pure heart—because people fade like grass, but the Word that preached the gospel to us endures forever (vv. 22–25; cf. Isaiah 40:6–8).
🌀 Reflection:
Where have you been acting like this world is your permanent home—letting fear, old desires, or pressure shape you more than your living hope? Ask the Lord to steady your heart in your “exile” and to make your life look like someone ransomed by Jesus’s precious blood (vv. 14–19).
💬 Mission Challenge:
Encourage an “exile” today: text or call someone who is weary or suffering and point them to their living hope in the risen Jesus—reminding them that God is guarding them and their inheritance until Christ returns (vv. 3–5, 7).
Continue reading in our NT260 plan in the rest of Phase 3 — Persevering in the Last Day.
Just Keith Harris 