People of God
by Dianne Eckermann
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Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy (1 Peter 2:10).
Read 1 Peter 2:4–10
In the 2,000 years since these words were written, Christianity has grown throughout the world. The concept of Christianity is not new to us. It is not unfamiliar, even to non-Christians.
In today’s passage, we read of Christ as the living stone, referring to the resurrected Christ. His followers are like living stones, as they too have life – through the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus. Through the images in this passage, people who believe are given a new identity. They are a chosen people, special to God, called into his wonderful light. They are early Christians united with God through Jesus.
This must have been a wonderful revelation to the early church. Before they knew Jesus, the rejected cornerstone, there was nothing to bind them together, but now they know who they are and whose they are. Now, through God’s unearned mercy, they are people of God and are precious to him.
The followers of Christ today have grown from these early beginnings and live in a different world, spiritually, culturally, politically and technologically. Different denominations have emerged over the centuries. However, these differences change nothing – it is still a world in need of mercy. Despite divisions in the church, we are given a beautiful, unifying statement in verse 10: ‘… now you are the people of God …’ This is our identity as Christians. We are all people of God.
Merciful God, we come to you with thanks that you do not treat us as we deserve but offer us your great mercy. Help us to show your mercy and love to people around us each day. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Dianne has served in Lutheran education as a teacher, school leader and system leader at Lutheran Education Australia. Now retired from full-time work, she continues to volunteer on several committees and as a school board member. She lives in the Adelaide Hills with her husband, Robert, and is in strong demand as a babysitter for her three grandchildren.
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