Daily Thought

At first reading, the term ‘strangers scattered’, v. 1, might give the impression that those to whom Peter wrote were insignificant, isolated and vulnerable. However, nothing could have been farther from the truth; indeed, they were the most secure people in the Roman Empire. They had a hope, v. 3, a faith,v. 7, and a love, v. 8, which others knew nothing of.

Their security rested in divine Persons acting on their behalf to bring them salvation. God the Father chose them according to His foreknowledge, the Holy Spirit sanctified (set apart) them with a view to the obedience of faith in the gospel, and they had been sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ, i. e., the power and value of His sacrifice had been applied, v. 2. God’s ‘abundant mercy’, v. 3, towards them meant that they possessed a living hope that was grounded in the risen Christ, and an inheritance that was incorruptible, undefiled, and reserved in heaven for them, v. 4. Furthermore, they were being continually guarded by the power of God through faith, in anticipation of the time when they would appear with Christ at His return to reign, v. 5. We too, by grace and mercy, share with them in this living hope, and ought to take Peter’s words upon our lips, ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ’, v. 3.

Although we can rejoice that we are on the pathway to glory, it does not mean an absence of trials, vv. 6, 7. Trials are sometimes necessary, and they can be painful. They are varied, but limited in their duration. If we view them within the context of our salvation, we will see that God has eternal glory in mind. His desire is to refine our faith so that it ‘might be found unto praise and honour and glory’ when we return with Jesus Christ to reign, v. 7. We have not seen Him as yet, but we love Him, believe Him, and rejoice in Him with a joy that cannot be expressed in words, and that is full of glory, v. 8. We receive even now the goal of our faith, i. e., the joy and glory associated with the final salvation of our souls, v. 9.

Our salvation ought to thrill us! The sufferings and glory of Christ interested the Old Testament prophets, vv. 10-12. Angels also desire to look into God’s dealings with mankind, v. 12.