It is interesting that Peter starts with: prepare your minds for action! We might think that prepare your hearts for action might be a better call. Peter, the action man, is no stranger to thought or its place. Right thinking (or good theology) is imperative for godly action. The first ten verses of chapter 2 are very significant verses.
* Dear God, thank You for this day, and thank You for Your word to us.
“Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
In this passage Peter draws our attention back to the old testament book of Hosea, one of the prophets that preached to Israel, calling them to repentance.
Three of Hosea’s children are mentioned that he had with his wife Gomer, who was a prostitute.
The second child, a little girl, was named “No Mercy”.
The third child, a little boy, was named “Not My People”.
Hosea taking a wife from whoredom and having children of whoredom was a hard narrow path for him that God called him to – And it was a direct picture of Israel at the time.
God caused the land to vomit them out, He says,
“Call her name No Mercy, for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel,”
And,
“Call his name Not My People, for you are not my people, and I am not your God.”
These are hard words.
They are true words.
And as with Israel, so with us.
We are by nature and intent on our own at war with God, we humanity are sinners in need of a Saviour that works (as were Israel).
How wonderful then, for Israel and for us, that Jesus went outside the camp, while we were still enemies, still sinners, still at war with Him, He reverses the curse and brings such blessing.
“Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Hallelujah for God’s mercy to us, for Jesus!
* Father God,
Thank You for Your mercy, not giving to us what we deserve.
Thank You for Your grace, giving to us what we do not deserve.
Thank You for Jesus, that in Him we see both Your grace and Your mercy writ large.
Amen.