Encouragements for our troubled times No. 51
COVID-19 Series | Date: 11 March 2021
The Elders and Deacons want to encourage the members and those who regularly meet with us through this weekly letter. If you have news which you would be happy to share with the fellowship or request for prayer, then please let us know.
A message from our Pastor
*1 Peter 2:9-10**
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”
In Romans 8 we are told by the apostle Paul God has not only predestined us, called us, and justified us, but He has also glorified us. Now this glorification of us starts when we are born again. At that time, we are elevated to a very privileged position. We are now the children of the living God and this comes with great and glorious offices, responsibilities, and blessings, as Peter tells us in our text today.
We are a chosen generation. Before the beginning of the world, before we had done any good or evil, God loved us, and set His love upon us, and chose us out of the human race to be His own. What a privilege this is. We were no better than anyone else and yet the Lord chose us. There was nothing in us or about us that God should want us for Himself. He does not need us and we can add nothing to His glory, yet He chose us. When he called us to Himself, He bestowed upon us royal positions and ranks.
We are now a royal priesthood. Now, in Israel, no king was also a priest. But Jesus is both King of Kings and our great High Priest and we are His royal priesthood. We have the privilege to worship our God in spirit and in truth; and to bring our prayers before His mercy seat.
We are a holy nation. We have been separated from the world and set apart for Him. We are sanctified and made holy in the Beloved so that we may be living sacrifices, holy and acceptable for Him.
We are His own special people. In this world of billions and billions of people we, who are marginalised and so insignificant in the eyes of the world, are known and loved by God. We are set apart from the body of humanity for Him and loved, cherished, watched over and cared for by our Father in Heaven.
But this privileged position brings with it great responsibilities. We were chosen so that we may proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into his marvellous light. We are, not only chosen to be the worshippers of the living God, but to live to the praise of His glory. We are so to live our lives that we bring praise to His glorious person in all that we do and say and think and feel. We have been called out of darkness into His marvellous light and, therefore we must not live-in darkness but in that marvellous light; living as the children of light and exposing the deeds of darkness by our lives.
And this new life comes with wonderful blessings. We, who once were not a people, are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy have now obtained mercy. O, what a wonderful blessing it is to be called the people of God. We, who once were far off, have been brought near and we are owned by our God as His own precious people. We, who once were the children of wrath, fit for destruction, have now obtained mercy. We did not earn it or deserve it, but we have obtained it through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. So, whether we are free to attend Church or are in our homes, let us live to the praise of His glory and be all that we should be for Him who has shown us such mercy.