This letter is addressed to people who live as outsiders in their community. Whether they were Jews who had become Christians, or foreigners who had moved into the area, or natives of another region who had converted to Christianity, they were regarded by the insiders as strangers, as other, and different. This letter calls them to embrace their otherness and live it out with utter commitment, seeing it not as a stigma, but as a priceless gift.
In what ways might following Jesus set you apart from the prevailing culture in which we live? What cultural trends today might be incompatible with the love to which we are called?
In prayer, consider those areas in your life where you might need to be less judgmental and more loving.