Now You are a People of God

1 Peter 2:10 “ Once you were not a people, but now you are a people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

            Lord, having been born in America where we are such a melting pot of nationalities and races, it is hard for me to understand the true impact of this statement for the regenerate Jews of Peter’s day.  They were a nation, then not, then were united again, then were disbursed again several times throughout history.  They were not only a people genetically and nationally, but spiritually as well.  Since the time of David, they had not really been a nation living freely in Israel until 1948, so being told they were a people of God must have been huge for them.

            America used to be called a Christian nation, more for our ideals and ways than for the actual spiritual condition of our population.  Now even our president has boldly and proudly declared that we are no longer.  So now we Christians are more than ever aliens in our home country.  How much like the Jews we are.

            But God!  How I love that phase in Your Word!  We gentile Christians were not a people and did not receive mercy until we actually believed and received Your precious gift of salvation!   Now we are a people of God along with people of other lands and tongues all over the world!  We are Your Kingdom, every tribe and every nation on this globe is all family under the blood!  That is amazing and very exciting!