Text- 1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light”
Have you ever pondered on the meaning and implications of the phrase “A chosen generation”? We may have become so accustomed to this phrase as a description of believers, that we lose out on its meaning and the identity it confers on us.
First, we see here, that we are a generation. This is absolutely incredible!
Usually, we take the word, “generation” to refer to a group of people that were born around the same time. But in the strict sense, it refers to a set of people regarded as a single step or stage in descent from the same progenitor. It is in this sense that Peter calls us a generation.
Bible talks about the generations (plural) of Adam in Genesis 5:1. It also talks about the generations (note, also plural) of Noah in Genesis 6:9 and many other progenitors (Genesis 11:27, 25:19, 37:2 etc.). The word ‘generations’ is in plural form because these men had children (first generation), grandchildren (second generation), great grandchildren (third generation) and so on.
However as Christians, we all belong in the same generation. This means we are all equally sons of God and joint heirs with Christ. We are a generation!
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the sons of God! And that is what we are!… Dear friends, now we are the sons of God…” – 1 John 3:1-2
Even when parents train their children aright, those children grow to have an equal connection with God as direct sons, because when we are saved by God’s grace, we are adopted as His personal sons and daughters. At the end of the day the cliché “God has no grandchildren” is absolutely true!
In a way, the fact that we all belong in the same generation is a mystery to us, but then, it is absolutely comforting to realize that you can have an equally personal connection with God and receive an equal treatment from Him as Jesus, the only begotten son, who is the first born in this generation. (Romans 8:29)
“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”– Romans 8:15-17
“So you are no longer a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” – Galatians 4:7
Don’t live like a grandchild or worse still, as a slave. You belong in the same generation with Jesus, you are joint heirs with Him, you have equal access to God, and you have equal access to all spiritual blessings! You are a chosen generation, and God is your Father.
My question is, how’s your relationship with your Father?
PRAYER
Father, help me to understand the depth of what it means that I am a join heir of God with Christ, and to live in that reality in Jesus Name.
Image Credit: wordpress.com