My Dear Shepherds,

It is just so hard for us and our people to remember who we’ve become. It’s no wonder! We don’t merely practice a different religion than other people. We are as distinct from them as light is from darkness. We were actually born again. We are new creations.

Pastors are responsible for making sure God’s people, aliens in this dark world, do not forget who we are.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Pet. 2:9)

In the darkness where we came from, the devil held sway, sin fouled every relationship and endeavor, and death always had the last word. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes. There was no end of gods, but the living God was spurned.

But each of those saints in your flock was called to Christ by the mercy of God, some through his slow, persistent wooing and others with a thunderclap summons. And then there was light! Understanding, repentance, and faith dawned. His life-light transformed us, super-naturalizing us as full-fledged citizens of the kingdom of God.

Each aspect of our new identity that Peter named comes with its own array of reasons to declare God’s praises. To be a chosen people inspires worship because there was nothing in any of us to warrant God’s choice. Someone ought to write a praise song entitled, “Who me?!” (Or we can just sing, “And Can It Be?”.) All that the Bible teaches about sin only makes God’s gracious saving choice more wonderful.

Being a royal priesthood gives us reasons to praise God for every kind of service he entrusts to us. Our church’s unique mix of spiritual gifts—our prayer, worship, evangelism, even our suffering—are all reasons to praise God. The most slavish jobs can be done “as unto the Lord.” We wash feet as kin of the king and as his priests.

We praise God for making us a holy nation because we were once prodigals and enemies of God. “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11). We were set apart, reckoned righteous and empowered for godliness. We have new songs to sing. We pledge a new allegiance. We love one another. All because of this elite God-given status.

Finally, as God’s special possession, our praises focus on how precious we are to the Lord, and how safe. From one child singing, “Jesus Loves Me” to a crowded auditorium in full-voiced praise, “How great the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure . . .” all rise from the LORD’s assurance first given to Israel that we are his “treasured possession.”

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. (1 Cor. 1:26–27)

Or as Peter put it,

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. (1 Pet. 2:10)

Pastors, in league with worship and prayer leaders, have the great privilege of reminding the saints again and again what an elite people we are, and what we soon shall be.

Be ye glad!

Lee Eclov recently retired after 40 years of local pastoral ministry and now focuses on ministry among pastors. He writes a weekly devotional for preachers on Preaching Today.