1 Peter 2:9: Purchased to Proclaim

1 Peter 2:9.. "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

The following devotional is purely from something that the Lord has put on my heart in the past few days. Amidst working back-to-back weeks of overtime, the Lord really convicted me that I should be evangelizing to my coworkers more. I realized that I have such a good opportunity to impact them all for the Gospel of Christ. Many of them I have built amazing friendships with (some of which are even stronger than the friendships I have with fellow believers), yet I have not shared my faith with many of them. They see how I act from a day-to-day basis, and they see that I am different from them. They see that I have a certain joy every time I come into work that is different than anything in this world (Praise be to God!). But, there's a difference between living the Gospel and sharing the Gospel, the latter of which I have not done as well.

However, we must realize that though there is a difference between living and sharing the Gospel, scripture tells us that one cannot be without the other. We are either living and sharing the Gospel, or we are doing neither. This truly convicted me over the past few days. I may be living out Christ's commands at work, but am I truly living out his command to "go and make disciples" (Matthew 28:29)?

Amidst this reality, the Lord brought 1 Peter 2:9 to mind. This verse, quoted above, commands us to "declare the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness." Isn't that just a beautiful phrase in itself? Nevertheless, its message even transcends its beauty. The command here first is to "proclaim." Note that God's Word does not command us to talk about, mention, or even discuss our faith (though those things are certainly not bad), it commands us to proclaim it! Scripture commands us to even boast in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:31).

Furthermore, this verses tells us what to proclaim, that is, the "excellencies of him who called us out of darkness and into his marvelous light." We are called to proclaim God's excellencies. And what are those? Everything we find in God's beautiful Gospel, that is, that he has made us "a chosen rase, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession" (1 Peter 2:9a). "He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD" (Psalm 40:3).

In summary, 1 Peter 2:9 shows us that we were purchased to proclaim. God saved us, even purchasing us with his Son's blood, and made us into everything stated in the first part of this verse that we may proclaim boldly of all the great things he has done for us.

So, back to my evangelism at work. Through this verse, I now understand that one of the best ways to evangelize is to simply proclaim of what Chirst has done through me. In the Christmas season, I am able to boast that my God is the true "reason for the season" (hey, it's cheesy, but it works). When my coworkers are in sorrow, I can proclaim about how my God gives me everlasting joy, and ask them if they would like it as well. When the subject of death comes up, I can boldly say that I know where I am going because of the Holy Spirit that is within me. Whatever opportunity I get, I can proclaim God's exellencies--and so can you.

So, how are you doing with your evangelism? Do you merely live out the Gospel, or do you share it as well? Newsflash: you are either doing both of them, or neither. Do you realize that you were purchased in order that you might proclaim? What good is it that God saved you if you do not share that with someone else? Go and make disciples, for you were purchased to proclaim.