Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, (1 Peter 1:1 NIV, 10-7-12)

To God’s elect, exiles…

Not exactly words you expect to see together. Elect exiles. Chosen exiles.

But it has a long history. Exiled to Egypt. Exiled to Babylon. Now exiled to Asia.

God frequently exiles His people. Why?

Often, it’s to teach them something, to remind them of their purpose. God’s goal in raising up Israel wasn’t just to have a nation to Himself. It was to have a nation to bring the message of redemption to the world.

So He sticks us out in the world.

And then we fight really hard to get back out of it.

Wrong lesson.

[Father, help me to be in your world, an exile to reach the people your Son died for.]