The apostle Peter addresses his first epistle to the “elect exiles of the Dispersion” (1 Peter 1v1). By calling them “exiles” he reminds them who they are: people moving toward their heavenly home, but not there yet. And so he writes to encourage them: “Gird up the loins of your mind.” Don’t be confused. Don’t be forgetful. Fix your eyes on that day when Jesus Christ appears, for His appearing will set everything in its proper light.
Peter knew how easy it is, in the thick air of this world, for us to get drawn into living for this world. To live for a career. To live for glory in the here and now. To live for comfort. And so, at the very beginning of his epistle, he reminds us that we are not just exiles from our home. We are exiles who are children of the Father (vv14,17).
Verse 17 might, at first, give us pause. Peter writes, “If you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile.”
