1 Peter series – “Holding onto Hope in a Hostile World”

1 Peter 1:1-2

This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. ² God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace.

Not only do you need to know who you are and where you are but you also need to:

3. Know Why you are here

Verse 2 says: “God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ” Don’t miss the truth and teaching of the trinity. You see before Peter ever talks to us about what we are called to do he reminds us what God has done.  Scripture says that God: 

• Sees you 

You are not invisible to God, He is fully aware of who you are, He knows you and not only does he see you but He:

• Seeks You – “chose you long ago”

One of the reasons we work so hard to try and fit in to this world is that we desperately want to be wanted. But look what Peter is saying, you are not just wanted you have been chosen by the Creator, you don’t have to chase after acceptance from this culture. God not only saw you He sought you. Can you say that about society. Society seeks you if you are popular or have possessions and power, But the Savior Jesus sought you while you were still a sinner. When no one wanted you, He did and He still does. God didn’t just see you and seek you He: 

• Sanctified you by His Spirit. 

To be sanctified means to be set apart for God’s exclusive use. You are a saint, you have been sprinkled by the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus gave everything for you, He gave His life, His love, He laid it all down so that we could be forgiven and free. Free to what, pursue a life of pleasure, to follow your own plan, no free to praise Him and proclaim His plan of peace to the world. It’s not about where you live that matters but who you are living for. Peter says that the result of redemption should be a life of obedience. A life that is on mission for the Master. You were saved to serve. Who are you serving, you have been set apart for a life of significance, to serve the King of the Universe but many of us have surrender to a life of self. We were not set free to be slaves to self. Are you going to live a meaningful life or a mediocre one?