12-9-11 1 Peter 2:5-9 Chosen to shine
Chosen. I don’t know about you, but that is a precious word to me. I know what it is like to not be chosen. No teams wanted me in sports, or math drills, or spelling bees. But my husband chose me and chose to stay with me through the rockiest of times in our marriage. And my God chose me. In Ephesians Paul writes that God chose us before the foundation of the world (1:4).
In our passage for today, we read that we were chosen by God with a specific purpose in mind. Peter makes the amazing declaration that we were chosen to be God’s people, his special possession. But don’t rest there. There is no period at this point. Not time to sit back and just bask in the love. No. We are to declare his praises. And this isn’t just because God has some great ego and needs us to stroke it. No, no. If you keep reading you will find that we are to live Godly lives in a godless world. This is no time to put your light under a bushel (Matt. 5:14).
One of my favorite hymns lifts praise to the Lord. The chorus says:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice.
Oh, come to the Father through Jesus the Son
And give him the glory, great things he has done.
It was an amazing day when I caught that if the earth was to hear his voice, it will need to hear my praises. You’ve been chosen. Make sure your light is shining. Make sure your praises are being heard.
Pot of Manna 