READING: Ezekiel 24-26, 1 Peter 2
God didn’t save us just so we could escape His wrath. He saved us for His glory, and He saved us to spread His glory among the nations. In fact, proclaiming His name ought to be our natural response to God and His grace in our lives. Peter shows this truth by piling up the phrases that describe God’s gift to us—”But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession . . .” (1 Pet 2:9)—and then by showing why God has chosen us: “so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Pet 2:9). Peter thus uses multiple Old Testament images to remind us of both our privileges and our responsibilities.
God has blessed us, and we must now praise Him for calling us into His light. At all times, though, we must remember that we are deserving of none of these blessings or responsibilities. God chose us not because we were deserving or worthy, but because of His sovereign will. Now He calls us to announce His goodness not because we’re naturally great witnesses, but because He has established His plan to save souls and get glory through our proclaimed words of the gospel. We are, in turn, to live for Him so others might “observe [our] good works and will glorify God on the day he visits” (1 Pet 2:12). Our good works + our gospel words can draw the nations to Him.
PRAYER: “God, help me to proclaim Your excellencies to someone today.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Ezekiel 27-29, 1 Peter 3
