I Peter 2:2-10 (NRSV)
Read I Peter 2:2-10 on biblegateway.com
Verse 2Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation- Verse 3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Verse 4Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and Verse 5like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Verse 6For it stands in scripture: "See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." Verse 7To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner," Verse 8and "A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. Verse 9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Verse 10Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Devotion
As a pastor in North Dakota, I overlooked the ministry of parents. I messed up. Luther said, "Most certainly father and mother are apostles, bishops, and priests to their children, for it is they who make them acquainted with the gospel." I Peter says real ministry consists of proclaiming, "the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." Who would do this? It is all Christians who have come to Christ and who are being built into a holy house, a royal priesthood. The heart of ministry is people who had no hope for mercy but received mercy anyway, who were no people but now in Christ are God's people. Therefore they turn away from sin (vs. 1) and drink of God's goodness. As beggars surprised by Christ's grace, they now generously share God's message with their children and others around them.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, we forget who we are and how you have lifted us in Christ to belong to your chosen people and priesthood. Wake us up to take on the fullness of the ministry you have given us, especially in our homes and families. In Christ’s name, Amen.