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Today's Quote
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Today's Verse
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Daily Wisdom
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In 1 Peter 2:9, Peter anointed the predominately Gentile Christians of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bythinia, with sacred labels previously reserved for the Jews. He told them that they were a chosen people, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation. Peter had come a long way from his Jewish roots. When invited to the home of Cornelius, a Roman, he said to Cornelius, "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean." (Acts 10)
Later, "when Peter came to Antioch, [Paul] opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, [Peter ate] with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group." (Gal. 2)
Now, however, Peter finally reconciles his past with the present. He is now in Christ's Church where all men of every race may enter into one holy fellowship. He reminded those Gentile Christians that they had been saved for a purpose. They now belonged to God. They were not just ordinary people but a chosen people! They were not just ordinary people but royal priests! They were not just ordinary people but citizens of a holy nation!
Peter explained that those who were in Christ had been translated out of darkness into God's marvelous light! Thus illumined, it was their responsibility to declare the praises of him who was responsible for their transformation.
It is the same with us today. We are chose. We are a royal priesthood. We are a holy nation, and we, too, must "declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light!"
