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. 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.
1 Peter 2:9-10
Scripture Notes
It is a wonderful thought to be “chosen.” It signifies the idea that we are wanted and even needed. Yes, with the new covenant, Jew and Gentile, male and female, we are all welcomed into God’s eternal kingdom. Too many people have co-opted scriptural wording to fit cultural and societal biases. In this context, being a chosen people is spiritual, not racial, national, or even economic. If anyone could claim to be designated by God, it would be the people of Israel. To be chosen is not to become superior, nor is it to be on some greater hierarchical standing. We should be humbled that God loves us even after the wretched things we have done, are doing, and will do in the future.
As believers, we have the blessing of joining the people of Israel in the privilege of being chosen by God. We enter the royal priesthood, a consecrated and honored position, not replacing the old covenant. Instead, God is present and accessible to all of us, not just a select few. We no longer need a mediator between us and the Lord because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit indwells us. God permanently lives within us once we have decided to lay down our lives and follow Christ. Our bodies become a temple of something incredibly sacred.
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
To be a holy nation does not mean a people defined by ethnic or racial terms. It means we are kin not by blood but by the ‘bread of life’ and ‘living water’. The Church is an empire without weapons, a nation without borders, and with God at the center instead of a king or president. This nation of believers, humbled by the profound grace and mercy of the Lord, chooses to abstain from the vile nature of humanity. Believers in Christ are not superior to anyone. Before we can be glorified in God’s holy presence, we are reminded day after day of our lowliness.
Have you ever felt left out? Of course you have. We have all felt that longing to belong. That sense that there is either no space for us, or that we are not wanted. The beautiful gift of redemption and the sacrifice of Christ is that many of us were once on the outside, looking in on God’s blessing. No longer in the shadows, we have been bought with a price and brought into his wonderful light. This redemption was not because of anything we have done, but solely because of God’s mercy and love for us.
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
2 Timothy 1:9-10
The reality of the mercy we have received is that we are to proclaim the goodness and authority of the Almighty. We were not brought into this world for fame and fortune, both of which are fickle. Instead, we should be merciful to others because we received mercy (Matthew 18:23–35), act with humble selflessness (Philippians 2:3–4), and praise Him who is worthy to be praised (Psalm 145:2-4). Being God’s chosen people means transcending earthly designations and being lifted up, even though we have done nothing to deserve it.
MEMORY VERse
Carel Nicolaas Storm van ‘s-Gravesande. Katwijk Lighthouse, 1851 – 1887. The Rijksmuseum
Related Verses
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Prayer Invitation
Application Questions
- Knowing you are chosen by God, are you seeing yourself as superior to others? Or do you see yourself as having worth and identity in Christ? How does knowing you are set apart shift you away from seeking societal validation or approval?
- As a royal priest, how are you actively using your access to prayer and proximity to God to help serve others? What habits, mindsets, and activities need to change so you can better fulfill your holy position?
- In what areas of your life are you struggling to be holy and set apart from the world? How can you change your everyday actions to live more like God’s special possession, rather than following your own desires or societal pressures?
- Does your daily life exemplify honor and praise of God who called you out of darkness? If not, what distractions, validations, objects, or people are you prioritizing instead? How can you more actively walk in His wonderful light this week instead of following your own desires or the falsehoods of the world that lead to darkness?
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