A Chosen Race (1 Peter 2:9-10)

SPIRITUAL DIARY

                                                                                                Date:  12-22-03

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  A chosen race

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Peter 2:9-10

            Message of the verse:  “9  But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”  (NASB)  “9  But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.  10  ‘Once you were not a people; now you are the people of God. Once you received none of God’s mercy; now you have received his mercy.’

            Peter is contrasting the people who have stumbled over the Cornerstone with those who have been part of the chosen race or chosen generation in verse 10.  The section in this verse which talks about being a royal priesthood has already been dealt with before.  Being a chosen race speaks to the elect of God, which is done through God’s love.  Speaking about the holy nation means that we have been set apart by God to do His will while we are on this earth, and even beyond our lives here.  We are God’s own possession, and because of that we have responsibilities, which include proclaiming the excellencies of Him so that by our lives we can show others the love and mercy of God, that in turn He might draw them to Himself. 

            Peter now writes about believers being God’s people when before they were not God’s people and he gets this from the prophet Hosea.  Paul also wrote about this in Romans 9:25, and 10:19.  It was first written by Hosea and can be found in Hosea 1:9,10 and 2:23.  Everyone who is a believer in Jesus Christ has received this new-birth through God’s mercy, not originally born with it.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I want to zero in on this reason of why God has called us out of darkness into a great light as taught in verse nine.  This very thing that is written about in this verse has been lived out in the salvation of all of Beth’s family and is now reaching into others as evidenced by Brittany’s new birth last night. 

The Word of God was indeed refreshing to my heart and it was also a great blessing to my heart as I read it this morning.

My Steps of Faith Today:  Continue to trust the Lord in relationship with our investments.  To trust the Lord to give me the right words to speak to those who He has been so kind and merciful to save, and allowing me the privilege to disciple them.

Memory verse for the week:  1Corthinians 10:13

            13.  No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.