Devotion: 1Peter 2:9

Salvation is of the Lord. That is the point of Peter’s reminder: you are a chosen generation. As Jesus himself affirmed, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you” (John 15:16).

And what a salvation you have been chosen to! You are now a royal priesthood, a sacred and set apart nation, a distinctive people. The saints in heaven sing praises to the Lamb because he has “made us unto our God kings and priests” (Revelation 5:10).

But this wonderful gift of salvation is not, ultimately, man-centered. It is not primarily about us at all. Salvation was planned before creation, executed at the cross, and delivered to you by the Holy Spirit that ye should show forth the praises of the God who saved you.

God saved you for your good and for his glory. He brought you out of sin, and drew you to himself, and delivered you from hell so that his power and grace and justice and purity would be displayed in your salvation and in your life.

This, then, is the great work of evangelism. Not some artificial salesmanship, but an authentic display of the joy that you have found in Jesus, that others might see and know him through you.