Read 1 Peter 1.13-2.10
Verses chosen for devotion:
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV
The First Letter of Peter, was addressed to the persecuted or oppressed Christians living in five regions of Asia Minor. They might have gone through trials and tests and the message was to encourage them to stay steadfast in their faith. In the chosen passage Peter reminded Christians that they are a chosen race, special to God, set apart for Him to be testimonies to others for they have tasted the goodness of God, and they who were once living in the dark had been called into the light, in full knowledge of the truth of Jesus Christ, and received the mercy of salvation.
What does this mean to me? I am living in a country that is free from religious persecution and we are free to pursue our faith. What is it to me being the chosen people of God, and a royal priesthood?
Relate
Being a fourth generation Christian, I have the privilege of knowing the gospel and serving in the church since young. But sometimes I tend to forget how privileged and blessed I am to be child of God, redeemed by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. I took for granted the mercy and grace that God has lavished upon me. I often forgot how privileged for me to be the heir of God and co heir with Christ (Romans 8:17).
I am chosen
Vs 9 said that I was chosen by God. That means God chose me and not the other way round. He chose me to be His special people. I remember when I was young I felt so proud and honored when I was chosen by my teacher to be the class monitor and later on by the school to be the school prefect. This is even more - God Himself (the King of Kings, creator of heaven and earth) chose me to be His people, a people for His own possession. How marvelous and joyful this is!
I am a Royal Priest
We are called to be a royal priest, as a church or as an individual. In the Old Testament the tribe of Levi was set apart from the rest and to be dedicated to God’s service. The priests came into the presence of God (Holy of Holies). If we are Royal Priests we are to be set apart from this world as well and our lives are to be dedicated to God. And as God’s Royal Priests we have direct access to God as the veil between God and us have been torn down (Luke 23:45). And as God’s Royal Priest I offer myself as a living sacrifice, pleasing to God.
Proclaim the excellencies of God
If we are God’s chosen people, we are to be set apart for God’s use. God wanted Israel to be set apart from the rest of the other nations so the world might see the glory of God. Likewise for God’s chosen people today I have to proclaim the holiness and goodness of God through how I live my life and how I interact with others. If I were to live according to the world, how can then God’s glory be revealed to the world? No one will be keen to know about our God if we live like there is no God. The world is watching, and as a Royal Priest my role will be representing God to others by calling them from the darkness into the light. Royal Priesthood comes with responsibilities.
I pray that God will continue to impress upon my heart the need to proclaim God’s goodness, to carry out the responsibilities of a Royal Priesthood. I have to stay steadfast for God has chosen me and I have to remember that I am inheritor not of this world but of the world that is to come.
Rest
Lord, I lift your name on high;
Lord, I love to sing your praises.
I’m so glad you’re in my life;
I’m so glad you came to save us.
You came from heaven to earth to show the way
from the earth to the cross, my debt to pay:
from the cross to the grave,
from the grave to the sky—
Lord, I lift your name on high.
Amen
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