“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
1 Peter 2:9
We are post-Easter and have heard constantly that Jesus has died for us, taken all of our sins, and rose again so that we may have new life. This is the message that we must hear and believe. Without that, Jesus was simply a good guy and a great teacher. The message of death to your sins and life and freedom in Christ is the one that you should always crave when listening to a sermon (any sermon, not just one of mine).
But now what? On a Sunday morning, I do not leave you with a “to-do” list, and that is by design. You should walk out the front doors feeling freed to live in Christ, not weighed down by the idea that you should do a bunch of things in order to be a “proper” or “better” Christian. To be a good Christian is to believe in Christ – to believe that you are one of God’s own people, called and forgiven. That being said, as a Christian – freed and forgiven – Peter lays it out that you have been chosen “in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” This is what we get to do with the Promise. We get to proclaim what Christ has done for us (testify), and what Christ does for His people (absolving sin).
This is what it is to be a Christian. To believe that Christ has called you, and to proclaim that Word to those with ears to hear. Don’t let this word simply be caught in an echo chamber. Bring it to new people! I’d bet that you can think of a few people you wish would hear the Word. Well, if you want something for your to-do list, here it is: either proclaim the Word to them, or if you aren’t comfortable doing that, bring them to a person/place that will proclaim the Word. Bring them to worship with you! Pull up the livestream! Go with them to worship in their own town or church. Together, let us proclaim the mighty acts of God, who continues to pull us out of our darkness and into His marvelous light!
This is most certainly true.
Pastor Maxwell Whitehead
