You were created for community. The challenges of quarantine have isolated and alienated many. As we consider approaching reengagement, we must work to heal wounds, strengthen bonds, and make new connections within the body of Christ.

When we sow seeds of the gospel in people’s hearts, God is faithful to provide the increase. A big part of planting seeds is trusting and patiently waiting for transformation and growth to occur, and then praising God for the great harvest of souls.

Power and control often whet one’s appetite for more power. But one of the marks of a genuine Christian exile is his/her willingness to remain humble despite the circumstances. When we humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand, He will lift us up.

Exiles of faith can expect to feel out of place in this world. We will likely face injustice and/or some form of persecution when we boldly wear the name of Jesus in this world. But we wear his name because his name gives us our identity and purpose in this world.

Christian exiles are given a new law to live by (John 13:34) and a new language to speak. We are to live out the law of love and speak the language of love as we follow the example of Christ who “covered a multitude of sins” with his loving sacrifice.

How are we to respond when targeted by others or tempted to retaliate? The way of the Cross says to take the “high road” which, it turns out, often means following the example of Jesus by taking the “low road” of humility and submission.

While we live in the world, our allegiance extends beyond anyone or anything in this world. We belong to God, which means His word and His will shape our lives. If how we live is a reflection of God, then what is a watching world’s impression of God when they observe us?

While the world may dismiss or disparage Christians, God chooses us and sets us apart as His “special possession” in which He is working to build something and do something remarkable in our world.

The lives of “exiles” are substantially different from the lives of those who make their home in this world. Christians are called to reflect the holiness of God by being set apart from the world because our “faith and hope are in God” (v. 21).

Adversity and hardship can be used to refine genuine faith or expose phony faith. How do you face the fires of life? Remarkably, we can still find “glorious joy” even when life is difficult