“We are God’s chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession that we may declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1st Peter 2:9
I remember as a child many times being “overlooked” or “chosen” last on the playground for the dodgeball team, basketball team, etc. You know the feeling when there are two or three left and you just pray that you will not be chosen last. Or how about the eighth-grade dance when you were never asked to dance. Never quite made it to the “cool kids” group. I was quite the wallflower until I met Jesus. Have you ever felt imperfect, unequipped to inspire others?
What if we look at all of this in a different way? Have you ever thought that your imperfections will inspire others how to overcome adversity? I have had many years to ponder this question and have come to this conclusion. God chose imperfect people to fulfill his purpose throughout the Bible and he does the same today. We are all imperfect but we, His chosen people, are God’s special possession to declare his praises. He took us out of darkness into His light because of His great love for us.
Peter is a splendid example of how God used an imperfect man. Even after denying three times that he knew Jesus, Jesus still used imperfect Peter to minister to crowds of people sharing the message of Jesus. Jesus told Peter “And I tell you that you are Peter and, on this rock, I will build my church.” Matthew 18:18a.
In Exodus 4:10 Moses God asked to speak to his people and told God “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” God’s response is one that is life-changing in Exodus 4:11-12 “The Lord said to him, who gave this man his mouth”? He goes on to say, “I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” God went on giving Moses complete directions and used Moses’s imperfections to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
The I AM WHO I AM gives us new life through our faith and trust in His Son Jesus, who died in our place, on the cross, so that we can be forgiven and spend eternity with Him. He loves us with everlasting love. Because of this love and grace, we can put our faith in Jesus for forgiveness and eternal life. He called us out of darkness into the light that illuminates His love.
We no longer must live as a wallflower lives in fear of not being significant enough or perfect enough to be God’s special possession. Let us celebrate as we light up the world with His love.