Throughout this coronavirus pandemic, we are living through a period of suffering and isolation unlike anything most of us have ever experienced. While we may not be literally exiled, many of us can relate to Christians in the first century who were scattered in exile. We may be physically separated from many of our brothers and sisters in Christ, but even under these conditions, 1 Peter speaks a message of unity, hope, and perseverance to our weary souls.
The world around us is wrecked by the effects of sin that lead to brokenness, despair, and death, but we take courage in the fact that this world is not our ultimate home.
God has built his church to be a house of “living stones” with Christ himself as the cornerstone. With this foundation, we are joined together in the power of Christ to endure suffering while rejoicing in hope. As we wait, we serve one another in love. As we doubt, we are strengthened by God’s word. As we grow, we go and tell. Together, we can endure whatever this life entails, as we stand firm in the redemptive promises of God.