One of my favorite things to do in scripture is tie the story from the Old Testament into the New. Yesterday, God called Israel a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. Today, Peter picks up that same language and applies it to people who belong to Christ. The connection here is significant. The story of Sinai hasn’t been removed, it’s been catapulted forward in Jesus.
 
In 1 Peter 2, believers are also described as living stones being built into a spiritual house. Hopefully, the imagery helps you with how we see ourselves. We aren’t isolated characters in disconnected stories, keeping our own private faith alive. Instead, we are being formed together into a collective dwelling place for God, as He says, a priestly people whose lives are meant to offer worship, bear witness, and to be His ambassadors in a fallen world.

In our world, identity is often treated as something we are responsible for building, but Peter helps us reshape that view. Scripture gives us another way, a better one. Our deepest and most enduring identity is received from God. We belong to Him. We have been chosen, not because we were impressive, but because He is merciful. We are holy, not because of our natural purity, but because we have been brought near, set apart, for His purposes.
 
For Peter, being a priestly people really matters. Our calling is to proclaim the praises of the One who called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light. God’s people aren’t meant just to survive this world, complain about it, or even withdraw from it. We exist to broadcast the truth about God and His rescue right in the middle of it, darkness and all.

Sinai taught Israel redemption leads to a vocation. Peter reminds the church of the exact same thing. In Jesus, not only are we forgiven, we are formed into a people who worship, witness, and embody the goodness of the King of Glory

How does Peter’s description of God’s people challenge our often individualistic view of faith? What would change if we saw our lives as part of a priestly people, called to display God’s mercy?

Father, what a blessing it is to be called out of darkness and into the Light. Teach me to see my identity as something I’ve received from you, not something I’ve created or earned. Shape my life with Your people so we may bear faithful fruit to Your mercy and goodness. Amen.