A Chosen People

In 1 Peter 2:1-10, Peter portrays the church as a living, spiritual house with Christ as the cornerstone or foundation. At the time of Peter’s writing, Christians were in exile and most were persecuted daily. In this short text Peter exhorts the new believers to stay faithful. Peter also defines who we as Christians are, what our purpose is, and how we receive the power to do God’s work in building the church community of believers. In recovery we too find our way back to a risen Saviour.

Let’s see how this works:

1. Who are we? Peter says in verse 9 we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a people best described as “belonging to God”. We are God’s possession – a peculiar people, a covenant people. Therefore, we boldly live in the truth that we are His. We are not to let our hurts, habits and hang ups keep us down.
2. What is our function? We are to be witnesses for God and “…to declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness”. Christ is the cornerstone, but one stone in itself cannot be a church or even a wall. It takes others hearing the Gospel and becoming believers to build the church into the community of believers. Our job is to be one of the builders by sharing the gospel of the Living Stone, Jesus Christ. Through Celebrate Recovery we too are restored and become a building block for Christ.
3. Where is our power from? Peter says in verses 2 and 3 – we have “…tasted that the Lord is good”. We are now his people and have received his mercy, and above all the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us the fire we need to boldly face others and share the gospel. What a great big wonderful God we serve!

Peter was rooted in Old Testament theology being a devout Jew. It took a servant’s heart and Christ to shape Peter into the man he became for a New Testament Gospel. We as a people are like Peter. A people once without a name, but now with a name – God’s covenant people. A people once without mercy, but now living a victorious life because of God’s mercy.

The important thing in life is not how we are clothed, how much money we have in the bank, what others think of us, but our dedication and commitment to God. God called us (a chosen people) and will grow us into what He has called us to be. The things of this life are good, but God would have us choose the things that are great – and those are only found in Jesus Christ the cornerstone.

In Christ,

Jerry McGuire
Celebrate Recovery Lay Ministry Leader
Cokesbury UMC Pensacola, Florida