Chosen & Scattered - Exiles & Hope Series

This devotion is written by Ruth Anne Reese and is entitled “God’s New Family and the Gift of Salvation.” This article can be found in Ruth Anne Resse’ book, “The Letter of 1 Peter.”

Key Observation. The Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ work together to choose, sanctify, and cleanse scattered resident aliens.

Understanding the Word. This week we will look at 1 Peter’s opening greeting (1:1–2) and the blessing that follows (1:3–12). Peter introduces himself as an apostle, a person sent by Jesus to carry the good news to new groups of people, and he names the recipients of his letter as “aliens.” By choosing to follow Jesus, the people Peter addressed became “resident aliens” in their own cultural setting. They no longer fit easily within their cultural setting, and they were scattered across a vast region (an area about the size of Texas) in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey). Despite their status as resident aliens, they are also identified as chosen by God the Father. Across the vast region of Asia Minor there were tiny pinpricks of light where groups of believers gathered together to celebrate the work of Jesus in their lives. But these little pinpricks of light faced opposition from those around them. In these circumstances, Peter reminds them that they are chosen. They are chosen by God the Father. In the first century, fathers were powerful people who ruled over their families. Ideally, they sought the best for their family and encouraged cooperation for the good of the family unit. God the Father is both loving and powerful, and he knew beforehand that he would choose these resident aliens. God’s foreknowledge of the resident aliens and their situation is a word of comfort that reminds them that God has not forgotten them. Long ago God chose Israel to be his people and to carry out his mission in the world (Exod. 19:6). Now, God is choosing this group of scattered aliens to be his people in the Word and to live in a manner worthy of their identity as his children.

Each member of the Trinity is involved in the process of choosing. The Father uses foreknowledge to choose. Then, by means of the Spirit, followers of Jesus are set apart from those around them. Being chosen by God and sanctified (set apart, made holy) by the Spirit results in being made ready and willing to obey Jesus, the One who sacrificed his own blood to cleanse those who trust him. The blood of Jesus is sprinkled on his people to cleanse them just as Moses sprinkled blood on God’s people to cleanse them when they entered into covenant relationship with God (Exod. 24:8).

Peter has identified himself. Then he encourages his audience with a reminder that although they are scattered resident aliens, God has chosen them. Finally, he prompts them to remember that as people cleansed by Jesus’ blood, they have been set apart for obedience to Jesus. He finishes the opening of the letter by wishing that his audience will experience a multiplication of grace and peace in their lives. Have you received the cleansing work of Jesus and the sanctifying work of the Spirit? If so, then may the gifts of grace and peace multiply in your life.

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