Monday, August 6, 2012
1 Peter 1:1-2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
SCATTERED
Likely not many of us walked from our home to church yesterday. Of course, many of us have never walked to church from our homes. And years ago? It wasn't much different in 1849 for a thirty-year-old pastor in Philadelphia. Although his congregation numbered only about 100 souls, part of the group was located in Kensington, a southern suburb, and another part was in Southwark, to the north of town.
Nor was it different in apostolic times, either. Yes, there were thousands of believers baptized on the first Pentecost, but they were soon scattered throughout the inhabited world. And when Peter wrote to the believers in Asia Minor, they were scattered through five provinces that he mentions.
Peter himself knew what it was like to scatter. He had run away with the other disciples when Jesus was taken prisoner in the Garden of Gethsemane. But that did not stop Jesus from coming to His disciples again on Easter evening, with His "Peace be with you," even though Thomas was still missing.
And being scattered throughout Asia Minor did not stop our Lord from giving those believers His grace and peace in abundance, either. Many of us are also scattered across America and around the globe today. Yet none of this is able to stop our Savior's face from smiling upon us, from favoring us with His peace. Grace and peace in abundance to you this week!
