"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood . . ."

Wednesday, May 14

Scripture

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts 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)

Reflection

The Apostle Peter knows firsthand what he is talking about! He himself experienced mercy, even after denying knowing or associating with Jesus three times after Jesus’ arrest. If Peter received mercy, so, too, shall we!

But this mercy is not only for our sake. Notice the in order that . . . ! We are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people,” not for our own sakes only, but in order that we might proclaim what God has done in Christ Jesus. The blessing that God bestows upon us cannot thrive unless we share it, as we sang recently in worship: “The peace of the Lord kept within cannot live, so open yourselves now to share it” (“The Peace of the Lord,” Evangelical Lutheran Worship 646, st. 3).

Prayer

Gracious God, Thank you for claiming us as your own people. Open us to share what you have done in Christ Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.