Chosen by God

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Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NIV)

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Devotion:

            This world is full of people saying that Christianity is dead. That the church is irrelevant, and we who have faith in Jesus are wasting our time on useless myths. It is to such Christians that Peter addresses this letter. The words in this passage should act like an anti-depressant for our souls. They are a reminder that no matter how bleak our condition may look to us; God has a better plan for His church.

            In this passage Peter arranges several well-known passages from the Old Testament to proclaim to us that God has indeed chosen us to be a special people for Himself. Let us look at these passages that our hearts and souls may be enlivened and empowered to live out our lives following Christ our savior.

            The first Old Testament quotation is from Isaiah 43:20. In this passage in Isaiah the prophet is encouraging the people that they will be brought out of their exile in Babylon. The prophet stresses that they are a people chosen by God. The next description comes from Exodus 19:6. Just before giving the Law at Mount Sinai God states that He wants the people to be a holy nation and a kingdom of priests. God desires this because he has called the people out of slavery into a new birth of freedom, and He wants them to proclaim all that He has done for them.

            In verse ten Peter quotes from Hosea 2:23. Here God through the prophet Hosea declares that he has taken the people and set them apart for Himself. Granting mercy and His steadfast love to them.

            This passage should encourage us because God cared for His people when they were slaves in Egypt and exiles in Babylon. He has always looked out for Israel, so He promises to look out for the Church. Even today when we feel like exiles in our own nation, God sees us. Our God will not abandon us. As a mother cares for her child so God will take care of us. No matter how difficult the situations that we face may be, God will never leave us. Let us pray thanking God for his care and protection even in our wilderness wanderings.

Prayer:

            Oh God, we come before your throne with grateful hearts. We have seen how you cared for Israel in all her distress. Thank you for reminding us of your care for wandering souls. No matter how far away you may seem we know that you are really in the situation with us. You call us to trust in you. Forgive our lack of trust. Call us out of this world into your new creation. Preserve us with your mighty power. May our hearts be ever thankful for your steadfast love. Amen.

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