Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

I Peter 2:10

The descriptive phrase in I Peter 2:9 explains that we are God’s chosen people. But in the next verse, Peter adds the glorious truth that Christians are called “out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

I smile and give God thanks every time I read these seven words of assurance! 

Out. Of. Darkness. Into. His. Marvelous. Light.

Oh, Joy!

Many Christ followers exude this marvelous light in their lives through their appearance, their speech and their actions. Fact is, it is not difficult to radiate love and joy if the Holy Spirit richly leads you day by day.

But Peter teaches us that we have a responsibility. Being God’s chosen comes with expectations and instructions. 

Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

I Peter 2:11

Peter urgently encourages them to be aware of their sinful desires by lovingly instructing them to watch their conduct so that their good works will do nothing but glorify God. 

Serving Christ while living in His marvelous light requires us to be our best self. But being our best self always requires times of renewal.

We are humans who easily slip and fall back into our sinful nature, but when we remember that we  belong to a royal priesthood, we can move forward with confidence and inner security by staying in step with God. 

Prayer, following God’s principles from His Word, and to fellowship with other believers will please our Father, who is standing beside us.

Friends, we can learn to live as our best self with God beside us, while enjoying His marvelous light and presence as we journey through this foreign land together with joy and freedom. 

Jill Hendrix