But 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.
1 Peter 2:9 NIV
There is much that could be said about this verse. But what strikes me most today is that it is directed at those God has called out. We have been called out of the darkness of this world and into His marvelous light. As believers in the Lord Jesus, we have been called to leave this world behind, even as we continue to live in it for now.
But as we live and work in this world, we are not to be a part of it. We have been called to live in the light. So, we should fix our hearts (Col. 3:1), minds (Col. 3:2), and eyes (Heb. 12:2) on things above. It is easy to get so caught up in life here in this world that we lose sight of what we are called to. But we have been called to be a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession. We have a hope that is beyond anything this world can offer. And that should impact everything I do in this life.
As Peter goes on to say, I should live my life here as a foreigner and an exile. Abstaining from sinful desires that war against my soul. Living a life that will bring glory to God. And looking forward to the life and home that await me.
