“Remember What God Has Done” – 1 Peter 2:9-10

1 Peter 2:9-10

“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.”

While the early church faced many trials and temptations, Peter reminded them of God’s grace and mercy. He used specific language from the Old Testament to reference the story of Israel. God didn’t choose Israel because of their great power or numbers. He chose them through His own mercy – “Because the LORD loved them” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). God brought them out of the darkness of slavery and redeemed them with His mighty hand. God made them a holy people to himself. He chose them to be a priesthood, a people for His own possession. 
Peter wanted the believers to understand that just as God called the Israelites out of slavery to be a people holy to God, He also chose those in the early church, by his grace and mercy, to be holy and set apart. However, unlike the Israelites who wandered as exiles in the desert and fell into temptation, the believers, themselves exiles, were to abstain from the passions of the flesh. (1 Peter 2:11)
Peter reminded the believers that once they were not a people. Once they were in slavery. Once they had not received mercy. But now, God was showing them mercy. He had brought them out of darkness into His marvelous light, SO THAT they would be God’s own holy people, proclaiming His excellencies. 
So, remember your past slavery to sin and darkness. Remember that God called you by his grace and mercy and not by your good works. Remember that you are now God’s holy people. Therefore, don’t go back into being slaves of your sinful desires. Instead, be a holy people, eager to proclaim the excellencies of God’s salvation to all people. We are destined for HIS purpose. (Revelation 5:9-10)

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:

  • Ponder your salvation and praise God for his grace and mercy towards us!
  • Are you living in the passions of your flesh, or as holy people? 
  • Are you proclaiming the excellencies of God’s salvation to all people? 
  • Are you sharing with your neighbor? How about your co-worker? What about a worker you see often at the grocery store? 
  • Who would God have you pray for and share with this week or month?
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Kevin Jordan, Missionary
Kevin and Wendy serve in an undisclosed country 
with their children and are related to some of our 
Belmont folks. Please keep them in your prayers. 

 

Original photo by Kent Banes on Unsplash

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