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\u201cBut 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.\u201d\xa0 1 Peter 2:9

Every person on the earth belongs to God because God created our world, and He created each one of us. \xa0Just as a potter or a woodworker creates with their hands and what they create is theirs, belongs to them, so God created our world, everything, and everyone in it and so we belong to Him.

But for the Christian, there is a deeper truth to this statement of belonging.\xa0 We don\u2019t only live in a world where God has ownership over us and so dictates our every action.\xa0 That is called slavery.\xa0 God did not create in order to fill the world with slaves that would do His will. He created for His glory. \xa0He chose the nation of Israel as His chosen and beloved people and this promise is for us today too.

In today\u2019s verse Peter is speaking to a predominantly Gentile population.\xa0 But what he is saying is rooted in the promise of God to Israel. \u201cNow if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.\xa0 Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation\u201d (Exodus 19:5-6a).\xa0 In the words \u201ckingdom of priests\u201d we see the entire nation of Israel included in this call.\xa0 The whole nation was to model holy living, be a witness to the glory and beauty of the Lord their God and to draw people from other nations into a saving relationship with God.

Priests in Israel were holy men who were set apart to serve in the tabernacle and later in the temple. \xa0They were given the responsibility of presiding over religious rituals and sacrifices required by the law.\xa0 Their purpose was to help the Israelites maintain their relationship with God.\xa0 In calling the Gentiles, and in extension, us, a chosen people, a royal priesthood, God\u2019s special possession, Peter is charging us with that same responsibility.\xa0 To do and speak those things that set us apart and that will help other people maintain or move towards a personal relationship with God.

But like Pastor Michael said yesterday, the Christian life is not automatic.\xa0 It is relational, just like life.\xa0 We were created to be in relationship with God and with others.\xa0 We are a part of a larger family of God.\xa0 A priesthood of believers.\xa0 A people set apart.\xa0

I want to make mention of a little word that starts today\u2019s verse. The word \u201cbut.\u201d\xa0 When this word appears in Scripture at the start of a verse like this, it\u2019s often a note to pay attention.\xa0 Here, it is showing us the contrast between that which was before, where in verse 8 Peter talks of the disobedient who stumble, and that which he says in verse 9, that these Christians are a chosen people.\xa0 So, although all people belong to God, we, His people are His special possession.\xa0 And why are we given this honour?\xa0 So that we might declare the praises of God!\xa0 He who called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light!

In both the Old and New Testaments light and darkness are used as metaphors for good and evil, chaos and order, truth and untruth, life and death.\xa0 The very first creative act of God was to say \u201cLet there be light!\u201d and He separated the light from the darkness (Genesis 1:3-4).\xa0 Before these Christians which Peter is speaking to knew Christ, they were living in darkness\u2014the darkness of not knowing God\u2014the darkness of a life without the guidance, hope and love that can be found in Christ alone. But now God has embraced them as His very own.\xa0 They are not alone.\xa0 They are now living a life of belonging to God and of belonging to one another.\xa0 A royal priesthood, a people set apart, the family of God.\xa0 Not as separate from one another but joined in Christ to one another and to God Himself in order to bring God glory by revealing Him to the world through their holy living.

As the beloved and chosen of God, we have been called to be a beacon of light to the world.\xa0 The light of Christ.\xa0 The picture of a people that are living a life of light, of love, of good, order, truth and life.\xa0 Abundant life.\xa0 Life in community.\xa0 The community of a family.\xa0 The family of God.