Read: 1 Peter 2:1-9
But you are a chosen race . . . (v. 9)
What enormous encouragement is lavished upon Christian believers in just one verse. We are called chosen, royal, holy, and as if that were not enough, God’s own people. Out of all the people of the earth God has chosen one for himself, and through the blood of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit we are among that people. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! But please note, verse 9 doesn’t stop with lavish blessings. It continues with urgent responsibility; we are blessed to be a blessing to the nations. We are called by God to “proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light!”
I was converted to the Christian faith while I was a student in college. I had not grown up with the blessing of Christian parents and had never once worshiped in a Christian church until attending chapel at a Christian college. During spring break of my first year, a group of us went to Florida to do what college kids do in Florida. One morning, however, some beach evangelists were leading songs and preaching the gospel in a band shell. Curious, I sat and listened. The young preacher was proclaiming 2 Corinthians 5:17: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” As I listened, I became a Christian, and I was given a deep and abiding desire to also preach the gospel. God chose me to proclaim the good news, just as he has chosen all who follow Jesus.
As you pray, ask God to give you a tongue to tell his glories.
About the Author
Dr. Timothy Brown is the Henry Bast Professor of Preaching and President Emeritus at Western Theological Seminary where he served from 1995-2021. Tim is married to Nancy and together they have three children and ten grandchildren.
