1Pe 2:9-10 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”
What an amazing declaration is given to us! Although Peter began this epistle by addressing a scattered group of strangers, he now informs us that we are favored by God. Not only are we chosen, but by the power of this choosing, we are now kindred (see Strong’s definition of generation). We have been called into this priesthood that is not according to the law of Moses.
Our High Priest is of the lineage of Judah, not Levi. We, through grace, are of His generation. In other words, we are His kinsmen and, therefore a royal priesthood. He is the King of kings, and we are kings and priests (Rev 1:6) unto God. We are a sanctified race, having entered into the preservation of Almighty God! We have been made a people of the same customs (nation) through obedience to the Word of God.
This wonderful grace is ours for a purpose. We have been chosen to celebrate (show forth) the excellency of Him who has chosen us to our blessed estate. Notice, we are not celebrating our condition, but the One who made our condition possible! If we celebrate our condition, then the focus is on us. Sooner or later, that focus will lead us into error. By focusing on the One that makes our blessed condition possible, we manifest that our joy and our confidence is in Him.
When our confidence is in Him, we can cease to be distracted by what we once were. We are told that, in the past, we were not a people. We were not kindred; we were not a nation; we were alone in the darkness of our sin. BUT, through His great love, we now enjoy a blessed fellowship, and we are never alone. Where before no eye pitied us, we are now the recipients of mercy that is new every morning!
May we live in celebration of Him who has made us accepted in the beloved!
