"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; 10who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy".
Just think back to where you came from before you were a Christian. I've worked with rapists, paedophiles, gang leaders and many more and many of these, I believe, are now Christians and serve in churches or Christian organisations. Where society has cast them aside, Jesus Christ has accepted them. Obviously, concerning people who were involved in sexual abuse, they have to be monitored for safety reasons. But apart from that, their lives have changed.
Our text described us as Chosen people, His own special people. Jesus does change lives that is a proven fact. He certainly changed mine. He called us all, out of the pit of destruction that we were in, perhaps the gutter and, rather like Joshua the priest who we looked at last week (Zechariah 3), He cleaned us up, gave us a new set of clothes and sent us on a new road.
Where we were once misfits and people who were an embarrassment to be around, we now have a future and this culminates in being in heaven forever. Wow, that is certainly different.
If someone would have told you that you were loved, respected, accepted and have a bright future, back in the days, you would have laughed at this. But, you see Jesus is very different.
He spent time with the misfits of life wherever He went. He went into their houses, spoke to
them on the streets or down a dust, smelly alleyway. Some were male and female prostitutes, robbers, tricksters and drunkards to mention a few. And Jesus paid the price for being sociable as this. They couldn't understand why someone, who claimed to be the Messiah, was spending time with the 'down and outs' of society. (Sorry to use a derogatory statement but it was true). Jesus gave up His life for the deprived and the misfits of society, look again at our text -
"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; 10who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy".
He has given us grace and mercy. He has given us a free pardon and demonstrated that we are chosen people, acceptable in God's eyes and He has paved the way for a bright future. He has given us hope where there was no hope for some of us. He has given us His all and now, it is up to us to show Him how grateful we are to Him, by living as His special, chosen people.
Copyright 2025 Grahame Howard.
If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:
Lord Jesus, I have sinned. I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.
In Jesus' Name. Amen'
dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com
If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk
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