But you are A CHOSEN FAMILY, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9, LSB
Set apart and claimed by God. This isn’t done because of some act we have completed independently, but because of our God who has set us apart and made us holy. This redemption, this righteousness has not been achieved by any great action of ourselves, but we have been chosen and are called away from our focus on self but rather our focus is to be placed on ministering to the broken. The worldly way is to think of self-first. The first commandment of the world is, “Cover thine own assets.” This is not of God. The desire of God is for us to leave it all and let it go on His account. It is hard to live a life of reckless abandon to God, to “leave our nets behind and follow Him.” We struggle with not turning back and looking upon our old life. Our concerns are more often centered on self and our personal interests instead of the interests of God. Once filled with the Holy Spirit the apostles and disciples gave it all for Christ. This is our calling as Christ seeks to make us anew and fill us with His peace.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.