Elect exile

I started to read through 1 Peter today.
To be honest, every Christmas break is a struggle for me spiritually.
I have zero routine. I am not teaching the Word or surround by people who's sole collegiate aim is to study it.

The irony of this is that I am now on an indefinite christmas break until the eternal Christmas when my King returns! And while January will bring routine, nothing is certain...freaks me out.

Speaking of freak outs- I feel like if you read my blog then you predominately get to hear my inward dialogue and struggles, not that I am a hypocrite but once processed-and sometimes not- I share with you the precious things I ponder in my heart.
I am not yet sure if that is a good thing. In fact, most of me feels like you should earn the privilege of hearing it... Haha but the reality is, if you've read this far I suppose you have.
All that to say, yesterday I ruined a perfectly lovely day by simply freaking out on the inside.
"I have no goal or purpose"
"I'm 22 and I live with my parents"
"I can't even keep my room clean or be nice to my parents"
"my hair won't even cooperate with me" "why did I get a degree in BIBLE!!?!!"
"where should I get a Job?"
etc etc etc
All boiled down to a very confused and sad Malia. :(
Back to the beginning- 1 Peter.
Believe me when I say that the last thing I wanted to do this morning was spend time in the word. But I'm so glad I did( FYI this is nearly always the case...check yourself!)
So here I am to share with you God's heart in peter's introduction no less! It changed my heart, focused my mind and is just pretty stinkin cool!

Peter is in Rome writing to a handful of cities in Asia Minor. He addresses his letter to "elect exiles"...what a cool title!
While exiles may not seem like a particularly hopeful term, it absolutely is! Because it references our unnatural placement, our deep longing and search for something to call 'home' and our obvious misfitting within the world.
When modified by the word 'elect',it sounds the alarm we need to hear- that we are accepted by God, chosen by Him for salvation and unearned favor, and for the purposes listed further on in the text. What a paradox to have elected exiles, but doesn't that explain our deep struggle to stand out and fit in, or to be contented in a striving world or to force our flesh to submit to the things our spirit wills?
But look what Peter writes "according to" in verse 2--
1. The foreknowledge of God the Father
2. The sanctification of the Spirit
3. The sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ (for our obedience)
This is by the ACTIVE work of the Triune God that He writes: "grace and peace be multiplied to you."

Best introduction ever!
Do you want a multiplication of grace, that beautiful unearned favor of God
or peace, the kind that surpasses all understanding, the kind that allows you to stand before God(Rom 5)?

Look no further- it's multiplied to you in the active work of God being sure of His choice when He drew me to Himself for His own delight.
It's evident in the progressing sanctification as we are made into the likeness of Jesus through the Spirit which seals us and guarantees us we will see Him again and be where He is.
Grace and peace culminates in the sprinkling of the blood of Christ for our redemption!
In Him we know grace upon grace. In Him we have peace with God..in Him we have a Living Hope, as Peter will go on to write, that is cause for rejoicing and obedience to Him.
In Him, All my qualms are settled,emotions dissipated.
In Him, I can rejoice.
What a God of grace and comfort we serve...

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