LIVING AS GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE
(9-minute read)
Are you among the global travellers who prefer to stick to familiar brands no matter where you go. You stay at the same hotel under the Marriott chain, head to the iconic golden arches of McDonald’s for meals, and to Starbucks for coffee because your past experiences with these businesses have shaped your expectations of service, quality, and comfort? Sociologists refer to this phenomenon, largely driven by globalization, as cultural homogenization where people all over the world are experiencing somewhat similar lifestyles.
In the same way, Christianity is also a global brand. Will people recognize, from their interactions with us, that we, though of different ethnicities, backgrounds and countries of residence, are all God’s chosen ones? In fact, this is how the Bible describes us, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9).
So what exactly does it say about our collective identity as children of God? Is it a badge of honour, an outward behavioral trait, an entitlement or a response to God’s call? This week, Pastor Marilyn Chew explained what makes us different as God’s chosen people.
1. God’s chosen people set their hearts and minds on things above
Believers are constantly living with the tension between the here and now, and the there-and-then orientation of our faith journey as we navigate the existential suffering that is inherent in human life. We turn to the Bible as the authoritative Word of God and learn to adopt the mind of Christ in all situations.
We are told, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4).
“Since then” emphasizes an imperative. It means we cannot say that we are saved but still live by whatever rules and frames of reference we think make sense to us. This is not to say that we should stop listening to people but our relationship with God must be our only ballast and nothing else.
We may say, In the past, I did this or that and it worked. Or most people do this, and I will just go with the flow. Or a famous speaker said this, so it must be true. The question is: was God involved in what is traditional, popular or ‘expert’ thinking?
Colossians 2:8 makes it clear about how easily we can be persuaded by common fallacies: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”
The apostle Paul laboured on this point when he was teaching the early believers in Colossae to discern God’s will. “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:9-10a).
The word “knowledge” means to go beyond mere factual awareness, and to ask the Holy Spirit for His understanding of what is before us. Are we really averse to conflicts or simply avoidant of situations where we know God wants us to act with courage even when we have to face resistance? Are we dealing with a complex medical decision, or are we reluctant to take risks with God? Are we stuck in a broken relationship, or have we really never done anything about someone’s bad behaviour and trust that God knows how hard it is?
Paul frequently stressed the importance of spiritual mentorship. “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice.” (Phillipians 4:9a). He said ‘put it into practice’, not turn it into a debate topic, or a personal preference. Rather, it means practice till it feels natural and becomes a habit. It also means to allow yourself to be accountable and transparent to someone who can mentor you. In the same way, BeInReach is like a mentoring platform – you can either tune in week after week and go away to do something else after that, or you can fully show up (with your webcam on) and create your personal call to action after every session.
Paul further urged us to “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature…” (read full context in Colossians 3:5-10). He elaborated on a long list of behaviour and attitude that miss the mark of God’s standard. As much as God is invested in our salvation and spiritual renewal, we must be equally invested in it. We all have an ‘old self’ that we must continually allow God to expose and deal with. This personal and spiritual change is a life-long process and is always ongoing.
Therefore, don’t be alarmed when God puts anyone of us in new difficult situations, relationships, conversations, and challenges, because regardless of how unpleasant they appear to be, or how people are “making things difficult for us”, His ultimate goal is to create a new perspective and response in us. That is how we set our hearts and minds on things above!
If you find that you are still struggling with your old self, and feeling like you are the only one, know that you are not alone. Find someone authentic and safe in this community to open up to. You have to make the first move to demonstrate that you are invested in your own growth.
2.God’s Chosen People Are Clothed With His Love.
It is common knowledge that the closer we get to each other, the more we leak imperfections and inconsistencies in our human behaviour. That simply comes with intimacy. However, there is a balance to be struck between getting along and being honest with each other. Relationships without honesty and openness is insincere and lacks biblical love.
For this reason, the apostle Paul asserted, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14).
Paul was essentially describing agape love that transcends human emotions and is rooted in the will of God. It is the basis of our identity in Christ, and it reflects God’s character. However, it doesn’t mean that our gestures of love will be reciprocated - even from other believers. While others may not overtly hurt us, it is hurtful when they do not reciprocate on the same level when we need it. Even when we face mistreatment and injustice and end up getting the short end of the stick, Paul urged us to stop keeping scores and do the next possible loving thing.
Indeed, God holds us to a higher standard of love because He first loved us while we were still sinners. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a).
3.God’s Chosen People Are Ruled By His Peace
The world defines peace as the freedom from strife and violence, and as a state of tranquil existence. Not surprisingly, people mistakenly assume that peace is the perfect outcome for everything. Biblical peace, however, does not exist in the absence of conflict, and does not involve escaping from problems or community. True biblical peace is about responding with faith rather than fear, and does not even involve agreeing with others because everyone will have their own thinking about what you should be doing!
Consider the constant flow of traffic at a busy intersection. Vehicles are coming from all directions, and any misstep is potentially dangerous not just for the vehicle concerned, but for others in its path. Peace is very much like the traffic system that brings order to an otherwise chaotic situation so that all the moving parts have a safe path forward.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15). Notably, we are called to attain God’s peace - together. Not in solitary existence. In addition, God’s peace is precious. Believers must be vigilant about the Enemy’s schemes to plant conflict among ourselves.
The way to deal with disputes and conflicts is to first admit them. Too often, believers are quick to water down distressing circumstances to sound spiritual. We oversimplify things to create a false sense of unity and peace even when we are feeling hurt. We must also rule over sin that can be disguised as being rejected, wronged or misunderstood by someone. Where necessary, we must take the initiative to re-establish peace with others. Having a laissez-faire attitude is not excusable. The Bible warns us “But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:6-7).
Finally, our thankfulness to God is not simply an emotion, but a response to Him that motivates us to live and relate differently. Godly gratitude is not something that is embellished with fuzzy platitudes like Everything happens for a reason, or It is what it is, when we are facing ambiguities and trying to cover up the lack of peace in our hearts. Rather, it enables us to thank God for seeing us through immense challenges because He is determined that we should learn to set our hearts and minds on things above, be clothed in His love and ruled by His peace.
This is a summary and reflection based on a virtual BIR Session held on 8 March 2025.
