Reading: The Cross of Christ, pg. 249-253
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies 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. 1 Peter 2.9-10
…The very purpose of his self-giving on the cross was not just to save isolated individuals, and so perpetuate their loneliness, but to create a new community whose members would belong to him, love one another and eagerly serve the world. This community of Christ would be nothing less than a renewed and reunited humanity, of which he as the second Adam would be head. It would incorporate Jews and Gentiles on equal terms. In fact, it would include representatives from every nation. Christ died in abject aloneness, rejected by his own nation and deserted by his own disciples, but lifted up on the cross he would draw all people to himself. And from the Day of Pentecost onward it has been clear that conversion to Christ means also conversion to the community of Christ, as people turn from themselves to him, and from “this corrupt generation” to the alternative society which he is gathering around himself. These two transfers of personal allegiance and social membership-cannot be separated. | Stott, pg. 249
We tend to personalize our faith with disregard to the broader church. In what ways can your salvation and belonging to the community of Christ be used for the benefit of others?
Father, we who are your chosen people, are so prone to wander on our own. Show us in what ways we can bring you honor and glory by being a people who serve each other with gladness, and forget our selfish desires and thoughts. Amen