I Peter 2: 9-10 “9But you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”
When Peter wrote this letter, he was in Rome. It was probably written between 60 and 65 AD. Peter actually dictated this letter to his secretary Silvanus. His audience was the churches in Asia Minor (Turkey). Nero is the Emperor of the Roman Empire, and he detested Christians. It would be under his reign Peter died and probably Paul. The Christians in Asia Minor are being severely persecuted by the Romans. There are some that argue that it was Paul who wrote the letter, but the language that is used is more like the way Peter communicated than Paul.
He starts the letter praising God, and speaks of Christians as the new family of God and now belong to the family of Abraham through their belief in Jesus Christ. He speaks of how the Christians were like the Jewish people. In these two verses he states that we are each priests of the faith of Christ.
Throughout first Peter he begins to tell them how they should act as being Priests called to present the word of God to all the people they encounter. He tells them to obey the laws of the Romans, to be charitable, and in doing so they would be witnesses to Christ’s love.
When I was working for Anderson County Dept of Social Services, and had a difficult case to testify in and it would be a two-day fight, and I would testify for 31/2 hours. But before that hearing took place, I fasted and prayed. One day I found a verse from I Peter, and it was:
I Peter 4:11 “Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking actual words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
From that point onward, I used these words to guide how I would testify in court. I won all but one case, but it was never my win because I was just an instrument of God. It was all his wins. I still lean on this verse often. It was my purpose then. It was where I served God. I retired and my purpose was to care for my mother, and she gave me her feral cats as my purpose before she died. They were actually there to keep me going as my soul grieved so hard it nearly broke every day for several years. Then the Inheritance, as I called those feral cats, died and I was left without a purpose. God gave me a new purpose and that is to write. I write because it is how I can best serve God.
Each Christian is often a nonbelievers only witness. If you are judgmental to that person, you are not a good witness of God’s love. We are God’s ambassadors.
Each Christian has a service they need to do to be that “priest” of God’s calling. As Christians we need to pray for guidance to show us what that service should be. It is not necessarily that you move from where you are, but live it each day with each person that crosses your life.
Each Christian needs to ask God for guidance as to their purpose for where they will serve. Sometimes that guidance will come in the manner of people he places in your path. Sometimes it will be from a statement someone else says, but each of us have to ask for guidance for us to know what that is. It is one of those steps towards a closer relationship with God.
Today’s Question:
Have you asked God to show you where He wants you to serve?
Ever in Christ’s love,
Mary Elizabeth Todd
February 22, 2024 & June 19, 2024
Ruhamah United Methodist Church Bible Verses 