1 Peter - Following Jesus Sample

'But you ...’ Here is a great and a wonderful contrast! Those who disobey the message about Christ are in a terrible situation, as Peter as just made clear. But how different things are for you, if you have trusted in Christ. Today’s verses are the climax of all that Peter has been saying about God’s new people. He wants his friends to be gloriously clear who they are and what great purposes God has for them.

Before they became believers, Peter’s readers were in a bleak state. Look how the apostle describes it in verse 9. Darkness is a picture of being far from God, ignorant of him and under his judgment. All of us once lived in this darkness. We were separated from God and from each other. We were ‘not a people’ (v. 10), that is, we had no significant status or identity. We were just spiritual nobodies! And we had not received the mercy from God which we so desperately need. But now everything is different. Peter wants to stress just how different.

• What has happened to us and who are we now (vv. 9–10)?

God has been so kind to us. We have been chosen, called and given mercy. And we deserve none of it! Living in darkness is over. Now we live each day in the glorious light of God’s presence and favour.

All the privileges of God’s Old Testament people of Israel now belong to us. We are God’s ‘chosen people’, his ‘holy nation’ and his ‘special possession’. What was true for Peter’s first readers is true for us too, if we are trusting Christ. We have received so much grace!

Like the nation of Israel in Old Testament days, we too are a people with a purpose. God chose us for a reason. With our privileges comes a great responsibility.

• What does Peter say here about God’s purposes for his new chosen people (v. 9)?

We are to make plain what God has done. We are to ‘declare’ God’s praises. We are to speak of the wonder of God’s grace to others.

Back in 2:5, we learnt that we are ‘to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices’. Now Peter begins to tell us what this new ‘priesthood’ is to do. How will we bring God to people and people to God? We are to tell others what God has done so that they may come to worship him too.

God wants our praise to well up from our hearts and to reach our lips. How will you speak of him today?

Pray  

Ask God to help you declare his praises so that others may see his glorious grace.