Overlooked by the world, but purposed by God

Reports of a "Quiet Revival" have been exciting Christians in recent weeks, yet for the foreseeable future we will continue to feel the deep relevance of 1 Peter to the contemporary church: we are “exiles” in this world (1 Peter 1:1).

As with many of our brothers and sisters across the world, we are a minority in a culture that is suspicious of our faith and all too ready to speak maliciously against the church (1 Peter 3:16, 4:4). Do you feel this yourself?

Do other Christians in your church fellowship struggle with the perception that being a follower of Jesus puts them on the margins?

Not on the margins - at the centre!

Well the apostle Peter reassures us that we are not on the margins - we are at the centre of God’s purposes! We are “God’s elect, exiles… who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father” (1 Peter 1:2).

Indeed, ancient maps used to put Jerusalem at the centre of the known world. Church is at the centre of God’s space-and-time map because Jesus is at the centre of all things.

The reality is: You were redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, and “he was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake” (1 Peter 1:20). Let's explore this further.

Valuable because of antiquity

Some things are valuable because of their antiquity. I used to love watching Time Team and the excitement of a geophysical anomaly being excavated, then an object slowly uncovered and revealed to be a piece of jewellery from the Roman era. We can look at our identity in Christ in a similar way - Jesus was chosen before the creation of the world. Long before Genesis 1, the Son of God purposed to take on flesh and blood, then shed that precious blood for you and His church.

Christ is the chosen and precious cornerstone, and you are a chosen and precious living stone in His temple.

Valuable because of time taken to plan

Some events are precious because of the time and effort that went into the planning. Ask a wife which anniversary meal brings her the most joy: the meal that required her husband to book a restaurant five weeks in advance, or the meal that was ordered on an app and delivered 25 minutes later? Similarly, the church is often overlooked by the world, but God has arranged all of history so that the church might be sanctified by the Spirit and sprinkled with the blood of Jesus.

Valuable because of Jesus' actions

Consider also the deep and profound dignity that comes from knowing Jesus was revealed “for your sake." If a famous artist produces a new painting, the great and the good are invited for the unveiling. The revelation of Jesus Christ as the redeeming Lamb of God took place for you, Christian. You once lived in ignorance but knowledge of God in Christ has been given to you. You once lived according to an empty way of life but “for your sake” so much redeeming grace has been given that even your sufferings will result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed in glory at the end of the ages.

There are times when cultures or individuals despise Christians as irrelevant, or someone’s faith as a passing fad, but Jesus was “chosen before the creation of the world” and in Christ you are chosen to belong to God’s eternal purposes.

When the media tries to hide the influence and work of the church, we remember that Jesus “was revealed in these last times” and one day our salvation and inheritance will be revealed for all creation to see.

If you are tempted to think that following Jesus means you will miss out on opportunities, then remember and celebrate that the revelation of Christ the redeemer took place “for your sake."

Jesus was chosen and so are you. Rejoice and stand firm!