Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Witnessing Life of the Laity

1 Peter 2:1-10
V 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”.

As we try to understand this simple but profound verse, we have to first look back at the relationship between God and the nation of Israel.  We have to consider the things that once exclusively belonged to Israel: their election, priesthood, and calling.  These are now no longer the property of Israel alone. These are now the property of every believer or disciple of Christ. Believers are a chosen people, a distinct group from the rest of the world, just as the nation of Israel had once been God’s chosen people. Christians have become God’s people, not by physical birth into a certain race but by spiritual rebirth into God’s family through Jesus Christ.
Apostle Peter refers to believers not individually, but collectively as God’s holy nation and a Royal Priesthood. Holy nation refers to Christians as a people who are distinct from all the others because of their devotion to God. Peter refers to the Christians also as a royal priesthood. In the Old Testament times, Aaron and his descendants were set apart from the rest of the nation to serve as priests. They were specifically set apart for the task, given special clothes and dedicated. People had no direct access to God but a priest would act as an intermediary between God and sinful human beings. With Christ’s victory on the cross, everything has changed. Now believers can come directly into God’s presence without fear as we read in Hebrew 4:16 “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”  We have been given new garments of righteousness to wear instead of the old rags of our sinful nature.
Also, as God’s chosen people, we have been given the responsibility to bring the gospel to the world.  We have to show and tell others about the Savior we serve. United with Christ as members of his body, believers join in his priestly work of reconciling God and people. Believers are God’s very own possession. God’s special people are to show others the goodness of God, for he has called us out of darkness into his wonderful light. Darkness signifies a state of ignorance and living a sinful life.  By His mercy and grace, we are now the people of God who have been called to the light and brought to the knowledge of the Gospel.  Now that we have seen the light, we can no longer continue to live in darkness but lead others to the light.
It is important to examine our lives to see if we are still living in darkness even though we were called to the light.  As God’s chosen people, are we doing what God is calling us to do?  What have we done lately to spread the gospel? Does your words, actions and lifestyle reflect the life of a witness?  As the lyrics of the song “Purify my heart” states, “I choose to be holy, set apart for You, my Master, ready to do Your will.”

PRAYER
Thank You Jesus for including us as your chosen people.  Help us to be faithful servants and be a witness of your love, grace and mercy to others.   AMEN.
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. - John 1:5

Sofi George, St. Thomas MTC, Yonkers, New York
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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