Devotion

Read: 1 Peter 1:22-23; 1 Thessalonians 3:12

Obedience to the truth: Verse 22 began with these words - "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth." From the point of conversion, all true believers manifest obedience to the truth preached to them. We often describe salvation in terms of faith. However, faith does not rule out the reality of obedience. Faith leads us to obey the Gospel truth. It is in obedience to the Word preached to us that we repent and trust the Lord for our salvation. It is the obedient faith that brings the purification of our souls possible...

Read: 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:13

Peter explains how God's election is applied in the believers. He says that God's election is brought to us "through sanctification of the Spirit" (v. 2b).

Sanctification means "set apart" for God's holy purpose. The Holy Spirit calls us through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and sets us apart for a holy living. It is the Spirit of God that enables us to repent from our sins and to desire a holy living.

Read: 1 Peter 2:11; Romans 13:14

Christians are strangers and pilgrims. We are temporary residents on this earth. Peter has already described believers as strangers (1:1and 1:17). This is the third time he mentioned this fact. Peter’s emphasis is that believers should never expect total acceptance by the world.

In the preceding verses, the Apostle has ascertained that God has received us as His people. Now we are the "beloved" of God and His people. So Peter addresses us, "dearly beloved." This very identity that we have with God has caused us to appear as 'strangers' in this world...

Read: 1 Peter 2:4-8; Hebrews 3:6

Concerning his readers who are believers, Peter says they are "lively stones . . . built up a spiritual house" (v.5a ).Believers are ‘lively stones’ or ‘living stones.’ No believer is a living stone as Christ. We are living stones only because we are being built upon ‘the living stone,’ who is the chief corner stone. If we are not built upon Him, or if we don’t believe on Him as the Scripture speaks of Him, we cannot be living stones...

Read: 1 Peter 1:14-16; Leviticus 1:7

Peter teaches us to imitate our Holy God that we may live as holy.

Be Imitating Children: God alone must be the formative force in the believers’ lives. We are to look to God as our pattern, because "he . . . . hath called us" (v.15a). Peter knew the greatness of God’s call. Scores of years before he wrote this epistle, Peter and his brother Andrew heard Christ’s call - "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). When he responded to that call, his life was completely changed. He left his boat and net for a greater vocation. This marvellous epistle is one of the countless evidences of the wonderful things God will do through those who obey His call...

Read: 1 Peter 1:14; Ephesians 4:22-24

All those who set their hope in Christ’s return cannot live like the way they lived before setting their hope in Christ. The future will have a great influence in Christians’ present life. There must be a change in every aspect of their lives. One of the most expected changes is the transformation from a life of sin to a life of holiness. Peter teaches us how to live a life of holiness.

Be Obedient Children: In verse 14 Peter reminds the believers that they are to be "obedient children." True faith produces obedience...

Read: 1 Peter 1:4; Ephesians 1:11, 18

We are saved to obtain an "inheritance." The word "inheritance" in its Greek origin (kleronomia) refers to "a sanctioned possession" like in the case of a father’s possession being assigned to the son. When we become God’s children, we receive an inheritance from the Father. "And if children, says Paul, "then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." (Romans 8:17a).

Read: 1 Peter 1:6; James 1:2

Peter said to the recipients of his epistle, "Wherein ye greatly rejoice." The words "greatly rejoice" is the translation of the Greek word agalliasthe which has the idea of exuberant joy. The verb can mean exult, leap for joy, etc. It is often used for the joy that is expressed in spontaneous singing and ‘dance.’ Christians are called to an overwhelming joy. Their joy can be seen vividly...

Read: 1 Peter 1:2; Deuteronomy 7:6-8

David wrote many years ago, "How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?" It is unthinkable in human terms to feel happy in the midst of hatred. But God's people can sing with joy and peace even in the midst of hostility. This is because of God's love that has chosen them. Though the world will estrange and hate the believers like aliens, yet they are loved and cared for by the Triune God. See how Peter explains this overwhelming divine love saga.

Read: 1 Peter 2:9-10; Hebrews 12:14

Christians are a "nation" (Greek, ethnos, from which we get the word ethnic). More than that, we are a "holy nation." That means we are a people separated or set apart for God's use.

Once again we see Peter drawing from Exodus 19:6 - "And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." Similar expressions about Israel can be found in Leviticus 19:2; 20:26; Deuteronomy 7:6; and Isaiah 62:16...