“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”
1 Peter 2:9 NLT
Peter started this verse by reminding his readers that they are not like those who have stumbled over the Rock, who is Christ. They are not like those who are disobedient to God’s Word. Instead he reminded them that they are a “chosen people”. We remember the incredible Scripture in Ephesians 1:4, “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes”. God is of course eternal and He looks down on history in a timeless fashion, so He could see all those who would respond to the tugging in their hearts, pulling and calling them to a relationship with Himself. These are they whom He has chosen. And we pilgrims, who have responded to the call, are “chosen people” as well, warmed within with a glow that can only come from the indwelling Holy Spirit.
But Peter continues with the news that this “chosen people” are “royal priests”. A few days ago we considered the verse, “And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God” (1 Peter 2:5). But Peter introduces the thought that the priests are “royal”. But when we think about it, we priestly pilgrims are nothing else. As children of the great King we are of course royalty. Princes and princesses. So why do we so often behave as though we are ordinary people, citizens of the secular society in which so many of us live?
Peter goes on to add that we are “royal priests” in a “holy nation”. It gets better and better. Chosen, royal, holy – it all is building a picture of very different people. People who are of a different world. God’s world. His kingdom.
So should we pilgrims be dressing in a purple robe, cut like that of an Anglican priest, so that everyone knows who or what we are? Must we wear a very visible uniform to shown everyone who we belong to? Such garments are ubiquitous in society today, so we recognise nurses, airline cabin crew, police officers and many besides. Surely “Christian” is worthy of the same? This is where it gets a bit daunting, because do we want to be that visible? The uniform we wear reflects on our employer, or, in our case, on God Himself. Are we therefore worthy of being called a “royal priest”? Would our dress and our behaviour be representative of our calling and the Great King Himself?
Jesus warned His followers that they must be very visible as His disciples but there are consequences for those that are not. We read in Matthew 10:32-33, “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven”. In other words, as “royal priests” we must behave appropriately. Not only must we never be ashamed of our relationship with Jesus, we must also always be prepared to promote Him and our faith as well. That’s what a priest does. I know from my own experience that it can make things difficult in our work places if we publicly declare our faith. If a swear word was uttered in my presence, it was quickly followed by an apology. When I walked into a meeting room there was an awkward silence before the conversation went in a different direction. Thankfully the company in which I worked was large enough to have a Christian fellowship where we could pray and share together. It would otherwise have been a very lonely place.
We “royal priests” have work to do. The society around us look on, searching for ways in which we apparently compromise our faith, so that they can point a finger and accuse us of being no better than anyone else, of just being hypocrites. The world around us expects more from us than even God does. But we, by God’s grace, move onwards and upwards, day by day, always looking for opportunities to share our faith. In 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, Paul wrote, “ … Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume …”. So, fellow pilgrims, we need to be careful of what perfume we use. A Heavenly infusion or one tainted by the world around us?
Dear Father God. As we move on in our faith, step by step, please help us to become more like Your Son, Jesus, so that we can truly spread You and Your presence in our communities, schools and workplaces. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Being a Pilgrim 