Holy People

“For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” Deuteronomy 7:6-8

The people of Israel were chosen by God above all of the people on earth. They were not chosen because they had more people, more money, or more power than any other nation. God gave them two reasons that He chose them: because He loved them and because He promised the land to their fathers.

As Christians, we are chosen by God. “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: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy,” (I Peter 2:9). We were not chosen based on merit. He chose us because He loves us and because He promised to save us. Because we are chosen by God, He expects us to be holy as well.  “Be ye holy; for I am holy,” (I Peter 1:16).