1 Peter 2:7-12: a reflection

7For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,” 8and, “a stumbling stone and a rock of offense.” For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed. 9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10In the past, you were not a people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good works and glorify God in the day of visitation.

Peter reminds his readers of the astonishing identity they have been given in Christ. You are a chosen race, he says, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession. And he marks the great change: 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. Those who were nothing, no people, without mercy, have been made God's own possession, chosen and shown mercy. And there is a purpose: that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Notice the transformed identity Peter describes, and the change it marks. Once these believers were not a people, without mercy, in darkness; now they are God's own people, shown mercy, called into his light. The change is total: from no-people to God's people, from no-mercy to mercy, from darkness to light. And this new identity has a purpose: to proclaim the excellencies of the God who brought about the change, who called them out of darkness into light.

That transformed identity is yours too, if you are in Christ, and it is worth grasping. You were once, in your sin, not God's people, without mercy, in darkness; but in Christ you have been made God's own possession, shown mercy, called into his marvelous light. This is who you now are: chosen, God's own, shown mercy, brought into light. Do not think of yourself only by your old identity, or your failures; grasp the new identity God has given you in Christ, chosen, his own possession, shown mercy, called into light. And live out its purpose: to proclaim the excellencies of the God who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Let the wonder of your transformed identity, from no-people to God's people, from no-mercy to mercy, from darkness to light, move you to proclaim the excellencies of the God who wrought so great a change in you.

Lord, Peter reminds me of the astonishing identity I have been given in Christ: a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession; once not a people, but now God's people; once without mercy, but now shown mercy; called out of darkness into your marvelous light, that I may proclaim your excellencies. Help me grasp that transformed identity. Once, in my sin, I was not your people, without mercy, in darkness; but in Christ you have made me your own possession, shown me mercy, called me into your light. The change is total: from no-people to your people, from no-mercy to mercy, from darkness to light. This is who I now am: chosen, your own, shown mercy, brought into light. Keep me from thinking of myself only by my old identity, or my failures; help me grasp the new identity you have given me in Christ. And help me live out its purpose: to proclaim the excellencies of you, who called me out of darkness into your marvelous light. Let the wonder of my transformed identity move me to proclaim your excellencies, Lord, who wrought so great a change in me. Thank you for making me your own.