CULDEE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DR. JOSEPH WASHBURN JULY 9, PETER 2:2-10 BE WHO YOU ARE

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1 CULDEE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DR. JOSEPH WASHBURN JULY 9, PETER 2:2-10 BE WHO YOU ARE SO WHAT: In addressing the believing community, Peter reminds them that they are somebody they are the people of God. They have been chosen and set apart in order to be a holy priesthood. And to live faithfully into this calling they are to desire, and long for, the nourishment of the very Word of God! I love weddings and I love the opportunities I have as a pastor to officiate weddings. Now, when I m meeting with a couple usually the first meeting one of the things we do is spend time getting to know one another. To do this, what I often do is have the couple introduce each other to me as if we had never met. I enjoy this because on one hand it helps me see how well they know one another, but also because it is interesting to watch the expressions on the face of the one being introduced it is rather fascinating to see what things a person considers important about the other when introducing them to someone. You see, this is actually a lot like life. How we think people see us verses how people actually see us. In our scripture today, this group of Christians have been experiencing persecution and were confused and discouraged and so Peter is writing to them in order to remind them of who they are and to who they belong. In today s world with all the temptations, differing voices, and struggles that we face, Peter s message to this young community of faith is important for us to hear as well. 1

2 When Peter mentions new-born infants, this does not mean that he is writing only to new believers. He is writing to ALL believers and is comparing them to the hunger, desire, and longing that new-born babies have for the nourishment of their mother s milk. In a similar fashion, we should long and desire for the word of God. The word used here implies more than just turning to the scriptures now and then, or even regularly it is an intense, recurring, insatiable desire or passion. We should have a thirst for the Word of God that is so strong it can never be satisfied we should have a desire to dwell in the Word of God that grows as we spend more and more time in it. We are to crave not only reading and studying the Word of God but also in allowing it to form us and strengthen us in our walk with Him. The thing we all must remember is that the more time we spend in God s word the more God forms us into the people He has created us to be. The second point Peter makes is that we should Come to him. Remember that as believers in Jesus Christ we have been called to live and be in him. Again, the words used by Peter here imply more than just getting close to Christ for salvation they denote a drawing near to Christ for an intimate, abiding, and personal relationship with him. It means that we draw near to him with more than our voices but with our whole beings. Remember, Jesus does not call us to give him a piece of our lives he calls us to give him our whole lives. He wants more than our times of worship he wants our devotion. 2

3 He wants more than our offerings he wants our hearts. He wants more than our minds he wants our hands and feet. We are called to do more than sing praises to him and to publicly profess our faith we are called to live in a manner that builds up the Kingdom of God and demonstrates for those around us the power of the Holy Spirit to change us into God s people. This come to him then leads to the reminder that they the believers in Jesus Christ have been built into a spiritual house and are to be a holy priesthood. First, we are reminded that we are a spiritual house or, we could say that we are the temple of God. In the Old Testament, the presence of God was located in a particular place the temple or the tabernacle. But now, through Jesus Christ, His presence is found everywhere. He dwells with, and within, us. There is nowhere that we are outside of God s presence. We would all do well to remember that when someone cuts us off on the highway or when the customer service agent on the phone just doesn t seem to get the severity of the issue or when the service at the restaurant is not so good. Know that however you respond or act is done in the presence of God! Not only that, but the second thing we are reminded of is that we are a holy priesthood. When we understand this from a Biblical perspective we remember that priests did not choose that role, but were instead chosen by God. Similarly, we need to remember that we have been chosen by God and 3

4 that we have direct access to Him. And being chosen by God means that in addition to access to Him, we have been empowered by Him for the tasks He puts before us, we have been cleansed and forgiven by him, and we have been called to a life of faithfulness and obedience. It is not an easy road to walk not an easy life to live; but we have the presence of God to go with us and empower us along the way. I believe one of the more beautiful reminders in all of scripture is found in verses 9 and 10, 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. Once you were not a people, but now you are God s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. That is who we are that is who you are. You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God s own people. We, as believers, have been set apart. We did not choose this life, and we did not earn it we were chosen for it. And part of this being chosen means that we are to live as a set apart people. We are to march to the beat of a different drummer we are, to take us back to the beginning, to be formed and shaped and guided through the very word of God. And as we are transformed by His holy word, we are to proclaim and share the Good News of Jesus Christ and the blessings we have received. 4

5 As we remember and do these things, we need to remember something on our own, by our own efforts and strength, we were nobodies. We were sinners who were unable to change our ways. But, thanks be to God, through His grace in Jesus Christ, He has called us to be His people and has filled us with His grace. And His grace is more than sufficient to cover all of our sins. In Jesus, we are a new creation the old life has gone and a new life has begun. Friends remember who you are and whose you are and empowered by the Holy Spirit of God go into the world and be who you are! Let us pray 5