Exiles and Their Forever Home

Devotional by Tim Mossteller

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

I Peter 2:9-10

Peter, writes this passage in a letter to “To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces” (I Peter 1:1). Some of these early followers of Jesus (as many are today) were persecuted, put to death, forced from their homes because of their love for Jesus. The systems of the world hate the light,and they hate the life of Jesus who is the light of the world (John 3:19-20). And the world hates those who follow Him (Mark 13:13), as Jesus calls his followers to be light to the world (Matthew 5:14).

There is great irony at Christmas. What appears to be a small baby, born in poverty in a rather obscure part of the world, is, in reality, the Creator of the universe and the Savior of the world. When we celebrate Christmas, we are also celebrating the fact we are exiles and strangers to the world. Again, notice the irony. For all appearances, according to the systems of the world, Jesus' followers are “exiled” and not part of what the world has to offer: wealth, fame, power, prestige, and mere bodily pleasure. The world says “Follow these lights!” That’s how it looks and appears from the world’s perspective.

The reality is different. In reality, when we celebrate Christmas, we are celebrating that we are grateful to be exiles from a fallen world, and that we are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.” We were called by God to be exiled from a dark, fallen, bent, broken world of evil, hatred, and sin. That is the world we are really separated from. Thank God for that! Peter encourages us “to declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

Jesus, who is perfectly God and perfectly human, is the true light born into this world of darkness. He lights the path for us to follow. His path of light leads to the cross and his death which pays our debt to God. His resurrection bursts light into all of reality, conquering even the darkness of death. Therefore, we appear exiles, but in reality, we are now His people, His children. We are a people who live in the light of the unquenchable fire of his love, both now and forever. As you prepare your heart this Christmas, remember your true home, His Kingdom, is your forever home of eternal light from which you can never be exiled.

Question: What are some simple and practical ways that you can declare the praises of God who called you into his kingdom, especially ways that will shine the light of Christ's love at Christmas?