May 3, 2023 -- I Peter 2:9-10 -- Who God Says We Are

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
I Peter 2:9-10 ESV

Look at the beautiful way in which the Father speaks of His people. Those who are in Jesus Christ are a chosen race. Not races. Not various people groups and this because in Jesus Christ we are brought together as a new humanity. People who have been united in Him.

Believers brought to the Father on the basis of Christ’s shed blood are a royal priesthood. We pray for the people around us. That they too will know Jesus Christ and the power of His salvation. Our prayers range far and wide seeking the glory of God to be revealed everywhere. It is part of the greatest work we can do. We speak to the Father on the basis of Jesus’ work and this in the power of the Holy Spirit. Such spiritual strengthening emboldens our prayer.

A holy nation. Think of it. Believers have been called out from their life of sin and broken-out-of the strongholds of darkness by the power of God. We have been given everything we need for life and godliness. Then the LORD our God unites us as one people. We are bound together by the Spirit of God. As a new race we are Christ’s nation. We are formed for obedience to Jesus Christ and this by the power of the Spirit Who lives in us so that in all things the Father may receive the praise, honour and glory.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to Your great mercy, You have caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading and kept for us, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Spirit of the Living God, work in us to throw down the power of sin and continually renew us so that we will live up the calling we have in Christ to be a holy nation. Amen.

The prayer is based directly on I Peter 1:3-5 and I Peter 2:9b

https://youtu.be/5uPwCxxzjC8 “Christ is All in All” Keith & Kristyn Getty

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