A Priceless Gift - A Matchless Appointment

For obvious reasons, we can’t celebrate in any meaningful way the twenty-second anniversary of Moriah BP Church today. Nonetheless, I would wish for us to rejoice and celebrate in our hearts. We can do this by reflecting on and responding to the greatest and priceless gift we have received.

The apostle Peter declares that we are a “chosen” people, a “royal priesthood” and a “holy nation.” What does he mean?

Peter simply states in the New Testament what was offered to “descendants of Jacob” in the Old Testament is now ours! Jehovah God carried Jacob’s descendants on eagles’ wings and took them to himself. He told them they were his treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.

How is the N.T. church lifted to such lofty heights? What have we done to deserve this “chosen and holy” status? And what are we supposed to do now? These and other questions fill my mind whenever I read 1 Peter 2:9.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (NIV)

Because I cannot measure up, this verse fills me with wonderment, thanksgiving, and yes, reverential fear.

When Peter declares the church to be a royal priesthood, he affirms that we, Christians who are in Christ, are like the covenant people of God chosen to be a “kingdom of priests.”

That being so, we now have a truly priceless gift that also carries with it an inescapable obligation -- to “declare the praises of him” who had chosen us!

The job of offering sacrifices to God is given to priests. We are royal because we belong to Christ the King. We are holy because we were separated from all the people of the earth, that we might worship the one and only true God.

Peter describes us as “living stones” joined to Christ, the “Living Stone” (1 Pet 2:4-5). And as such, are to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Unlike the sacrifices offered by the ancient Levitical priests, our sacrifices are no longer material but spiritual - thankfulness, obedience, love, devotion, etc., through Christ - who first offered Himself.

Never can we offer anything “acceptable” to God until, like Christ Himself, we have first offered ourselves in sacrifice to Him.

Pastor Robert Chew