The Apostle Peter reminds us of our high status in (2:9) we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession. We do indeed have a high status in the sight of God. In our passage this week we discover that this privilege is the power we require for humble service. Following Jesus example, we look to the one who constrained himself, serving us, becoming human and dying for us. He served us that we might be free. Free to serve God. As we throw off sinful passions and endeavour to be model citizens, we testify to the world that God is good. Our witness even in the face of hostility is that we love this world and yet it is not our home. Ours is the kingdom. His kingdom and we wait patiently for his visitation.

The Apostle Peter lays out some amazing truths to describe the discouraged Christians in Asian Minor. They are a chosen race. A royal priesthood. A holy nation. A people for God’s own possession. Applying promises initially given to Israel Peter unashamedly says this is all now true for the church. And our response to this wonderful news is to proclaim His excellencies to one another and to the nations. We are God’s people. Set apart for Him. And we get to tell the world, ‘we were once in darkness but He has called us into his marvellous light!’

Peter continues to explain to his readers that they're the people of God by using three images: a foundation stone, the construction of a temple, and a stone that someone left on the floor for us to trip over.

God calls us to be holy as he is holy. This calling is a high bar, it is more than just being moral it is living a whole life set apart out of devotion to God. We are called not just to obey God but to do so out of love, awe and reverence. How is this even possible? We need to look up before we look in. We look to Jesus, the holy one, who became sin for us. The one who shed his precious blood more costly than silver or gold. Once we see what He has done it gives us power to go and live holy lives. Utterly devoted. Set apart for Him!

What does it look like to love one another? We often think deep community is impossible, we’re likely to get hurt, and our temptation is to give up. Or we assume true community is just ‘out there’ somewhere, and we just need to go out and find it. But the apostle Peter wants us to know that true community comes only through the transforming work of Jesus. First at work in our hearts and then overflowing into the lives of those around us. God invites us to ‘taste’ his goodness afresh. To be changed as we delight in Him. And He promises that as we delight in Him, He will transform us in to the loving church family He is calling us to be!

Peter wants his hearers to know how privileged they are. Writing to these discouraged believers he wants them to know that the prophets of old and even the angels long to look into the salvation that they have received. We too need the encouragement that this salvation is God’s story. He has been working throughout the ages to rescue us. Promising it in the scriptures. And this hope, finally revealed, helps us stand firm as we learn to rejoice in various trials.

Peter tells us that we can experience “Joy unspeakable, and full of glory.” But, what should we think if we don't? And what is Joy anyway? And how can we cultivate it?

1 Peter is a letter for Christians in need of encouragement as we look to navigate the challenges of our troubled world. Peter offers us a vision of Jesus, our living hope, the one who has overcome death and lives in heaven awaiting our arrival. We are promised an inheritance with him that never perishes, fades of gets defiled. His is a true hope. An antidote to the hopelessness of our world.

At the beginning of Peter’s first letter to believers scattered across Asia Minor he describes them as elect exiles. Chosen by God the Father, set apart by the Spirit for the purpose to obey Jesus Christ. Peter encourages believers in their difficult environment that their citizenship, their home is in heaven and that Christians are temporary residents and exiles on earth. He encourages and urges them to live for Christ their exiled king, as they live as strangers in this land. Peter urges believers in Asia Minor and us today that our whole lives are on mission live for Christ, we always want to be ready to give a reason for the Hope we have in Him and to declare the Better Life we have in Jesus.

Karl Barth said we should ‘preach with the bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other’. In this message we take time to reflect. In the last few years, we’ve all had to walk through so much; covid (lockdowns), racial tensions, the war in Ukraine, a cost-of-living crisis, and the passing of Queen Elizabeth to name a few… let alone our many personal challenges! Our need and the needs in our city are greater than ever before. And therefore, we need God’s love, comfort, and power more than ever before! In Acts 1 we find hope that Jesus is still on the move. He has plans for His people. And that He will empower us, by His Holy Spirit, in our time of need!