1 Peter 2:9-10(CEB)
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who are God’s own possession. You have become these people so that you may speak of the wonderful acts of the one who called you out of darkness into his amazing light. 10 Once you weren’t a people, but now you are God’s people. Once you hadn’t received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Reflection
These verses say to us that those who believe in Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit are as a chosen race. Jesus is the head, and we are children of God. As people of God we are not a perfect people, but we are a people set apart with a passion to live corporately to please God and love and protect other. We are special but not special because of who we are, but because of what Jesus did here on earth. We are called to love as He Loved us.
This is a new identity for each of us, as God’s people we should be seen as living a lifestyle that reflects the love of Christ. We can make a difference in the world by how we live our lives – see verse 12. Think of the words below from Matthew 5 verses 14-16 adapted from The Voice translation:
And you, beloved, are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden. Similarly it would be silly to light a lamp and then hide it under a bowl. When someone lights a lamp, they put it on a table or a desk or a chair, and the light illumines the entire house. You are like that illuminating light. Let your light shine everywhere you go, so that men and women everywhere may see your good actions, may see creation at its fullest, may see your devotion to Jesus, and may turn and praise your Father in heaven because of it.
by Clarence Beverage
For Pondering and Prayer
This is written on Monday, the day before you are reading this. I am calling this day wake up day. This is the beginning of the fourth week after Inauguration Day. I realized this morning that every single person in this country has something in common. We all, every single person, are being impacted in some way by what has happened in these weeks, and will be for the future, whether or not we are aware of exactly what is happening.
The changes taking place result in emotional responses ranging from fear to anger to confusion to cheers.
How can we love ourselves and those around us in this environment?
One way is to be able to know what is actually going on – that is difficult with so much happening, but we don’t need to feel lost and uninformed. Here is a link, it is updated each day, which summarizes what the administration is doing so you can actually know what is happening if you care to:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/us/trump-agenda-2025.html
Doing nothing can leave us feeling powerless and alone. Pray. Find something that you can do to help others. Be in community with others. There are many opportunities for that at MUMC as well as local entities that we support such as Urban Promise in Camden and Christian Caring Center in Browns Mills. You may know of others as well and share those.
We all have a Voice – if you see something that is happening that conflicts with your Christian Values and the lives of people you know and care about, reach out to your elected officials and tell them by a phone call or e-mail. Your voice counts and the more voices standing up for human rights the better the opportunity to ward off harm.
Prayer: Holy Lord God, we are truly blessed to be your children, able to look forward to life eternal with you, but for now here for a purpose. Empower us with your Love, Spirit, and strength to look for Truth and ways that we can care for those who are in danger and need a voice raised to help protect them. We ask for a sense of balance in our lives to help us be steady and open to seeing and hearing you as you speak through your creation. We pray these things in Jesus name, Amen.
