Passage: 1 Peter 2:4-10
In America, we often struggle against a tendency towards independence and self-reliance. While these characteristics can sometimes be admirable in certain situations, they have no bearing on the Christian life. God made us for community and that community is made up of a diverse group of people whose only point of commonality often is their mutual devotion to Jesus Christ. The church of Jesus Christ now enjoys in fullness many of the blessings that were rejected by Israel. We are the elect people of God, his royal priesthood and holy nation. We are those who are to proclaim the magnificence of God to all the world. We are recipients of God’s incredible mercy and that should be our defining identity and the motivator for all that we do.