A People of Praise

Studies in the Letter of 1 Peter pt 14:

A People of Praise

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1 Peter 2:4-10

What does it mean to be a people of praise?  

If you ask someone what good 'worship' looks like, what sort of responses are you likely to get?

In this passage the Apostle Peter describes Christians collectively in language that is meant to bring to mind the worship of Israel at the temple in Jerusalem.  It is meant to remind us of the mantle that we have inherited of being God's representatives to the world, and why it is that we have inherited that role.  

The forms of worship at the temple continued in full swing as Peter wrote this letter.  The impressive stones still stood.  The physical grandeur of the temple and it's surroundings was still awe-inspiring - in fact the grand improvements by Herod were in their final stages.  The priests were still offering sacrifices, the choirs and orchestras still singing and playing, the massive crowds still attending and participating.

But God had rejected all of it.

Why?

Because they had rejected Him.  Christ had come and had been rejected by those who should have recognised Him.  The One they should have worshipped was instead handed over to be crucified.

The solemn reminder for us is that it is very easy to continue in the forms of worship and think that we are truly worshipping.  It is easy to be a people of music, or of liturgy, or of preaching, or of good works, yet to fail to live up to the calling of being a people of praise, a chosen people and a royal priesthood.

The only way to live up to that calling is for us to keep Christ at the center of who we are and what we do.  When we do that, genuine praise overflows in many different forms that all testify to the majesty and grace of our God to His glory, our enjoyment and the salvation of those who believe.