"To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia...Grace and peace be yours in abundance." 1 Peter 1:1-2

During OCF today, the passage covered was 1 Peter 1:1-12. But quite a bulk of the time was spent on these first few verses. Understanding the history, and the background of the authors, and to whom it was written to. We always read the bible, as if it was written for someone else, and we're reading it because our cell leader says so, or because our parents say so, if that is the case then you have become "dull of hearing" (Hebrews 5:11). There is so much to teach and to learn about Jesus, but you will never understand until you realise you are not really listening.

Anyway, Peter was writing to the Christians who were scattered all over, and I found it interesting that he called the Christians God's elect, I don't think I need to explain, and also, strangers in the world. How do strangers feel? Alone? Outcast? We are told right from the start, that as Christians, we will be strangers, but the world we live in today, emphases so much on being accepted, being part of the group. Do we succumb?

How will God's elect behave in this situation? I think you know. But you say, it's too hard, my friends will laugh at me, if I behave that way, I'll be so anti. But aren't we strangers in this world? Why should you expect any different?

Is it really so hard? Or are you just not willing to give it up to follow God? We have the most important gift anyone can have: salvation! But to you it is just a word. What does it mean? If your answer is along the lines of, "Salvation means I accept that Jesus died for me, and I believe Him as my personal Lord and Savior, and now I'm saved, so I can go to heaven." Then all you have given me is just the definition of salvation!! I know what salvation means, but what does it really mean?