We are…. A Holy Nation
Karen Clark writes...
Watching the Olympics this summer gave me more pride in being British than I would normally feel the rest of the year round… national identity can be a good feeling when associated with sports men and women winning medals, but perhaps it doesn’t feel so good when we watch the news or follow politics.
The bible has an interesting take on national identity too.
In the Old Testament, the storyline of God’s redemption seems to be tied up with one nation, the nation of Israel. They are called God’s people and God reveals himself uniquely to them as a nation. In Exodus 19, Moses calls the people together with this promise from God: 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’
Israel had a special purpose as God’s people and a special relationship with Him. What a privilege! But as we know too well… Israel failed to obey Gods voice and didn’t keep God’s covenant…
Thankfully, there was an Israelite who did obey, living the perfect life and dying in place of all who mess up and fail. He – Jesus - the true Israel as he is called - made it possible for us to inherit the blessings of this covenant relationship and be included in the people of God…
Peter writes: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9
We are, if we are in Christ, a Holy Nation!!
So what does it mean that we are a holy nation?
It means that we are set apart for God… no longer belonging to the world, the culture, the social structures that would want to define who we are… Instead we are defined as God’s people, we along with millions of others across the world who have trusted in Christ for salvation, belong to Him!
It means in the local church context… as we gather together to worship we are one in spirit no matter our background or status. We have all been called from darkness to light!
It also means we share a good and fair ruler. A king who calls us his special treasure, his special possession. He calls us to obey him because he knows what is best for us.
And lastly, it means we are called to be His priests in the sense that we are to be a light to those around us, to tell others of this King and call others to belong to this nation.
Pray for each other today that we might know our new national identity as a holy nation, a people belonging to God!
