Mark continued looking at 1 Peter 2:9-10 on Sunday morning, this time asking the question ‘What am I to God and to others?’ His main conclusion was that we are beautiful.

We are the apple of God’s eye (Ps 17:8), so valuable to Him that we were worth the sacrifice of Christ (Rom 5:8).Even while we were still offensive to God, Christ died for us. He has clothed us in a robe of righteousness, purified us by HIs precious blood and has made us beautiful in our time (Eccl 3:11)

The inner beauty Christ nurtures in us is then revealed to others. God looks for a humble heart (Ps 149:4); those who are humble recognise their position in relation to God and are not always striving after the world’s estimation of value. Micah 6:8 shows us the things that please God: to love mercy, to act justly and to walk humbly with God. When we live in right relationship to God, we will live in a right manner and will be kind and forgiving, abasing ourselves before God and living at peace with other people. As we do what is right, it pleases God and the love of God is shown in us. Because God has beautified us, we have an obligation to show that beauty in how we live in our own generation.