You can listen to this week’s message in full here: Whispers of Grace - Holy (1 Peter)

This past fall, I took a weekend trip with my oldest friend, Vince. I’ve mentioned him before—we met on a basketball court at 16, and we’ve been friends ever since. That’s more than three decades now, which makes me feel… well, old.

Vince is a diehard Notre Dame football fan. He loves the movie Rudy—so much that he named his first dog after it—and I’m pretty sure he has the whole thing memorized. The speeches, the plays, the lore—he lives and breathes it. But he had never actually been to a Notre Dame game.

So last fall, at age 47, we made the pilgrimage to South Bend, Indiana. We watched the Fighting Irish take on the University of Virginia Cavaliers, and Notre Dame dominated. The stadium? A charming, small replica of Michigan’s Big House. Quieter than Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. But even still, the environment was electric.

Yet the highlight wasn’t the game—it was the day before.

We arrived Friday afternoon, and I had purchased passes that allowed us to walk through the tunnel and onto the field. As we descended the tunnel, I casually pulled out my phone to record Vince’s reaction. And I’m so glad I did. His face lit up. Awe. Wonder. Goosebumps. A 47-year-old man transformed into a 10-year-old boy stepping onto, for him, holy ground.

It was powerful.

A Holy Calling in a Foreign Land

In 1 Peter 2, the word “holy” only appears once—you are a holy nation. But don’t let that fool you. The entire passage is saturated with the idea:

“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession…”
– 1 Peter 2:9

Peter is writing to believers scattered across the Roman Empire—Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia. He calls them exiles, people living in a foreign land. And here’s the kicker—they didn’t move. They hadn’t relocated. Their exile wasn’t political or geographic. It was spiritual.

They had been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God’s beloved Son. And now, wherever they lived, they were no longer fully “at home.” They were exiles with a new identity—a holy nation in a land that no longer fit.

And that identity came with consequences.

These early Christians were no longer participating in the empire’s rituals: no sacrifices to Caesar, no bowing to idols, no festivals in honor of trade guild gods. For some, that meant being kicked out of their trade guilds—losing work, income, and social standing. That’s a real cost. And it forced a hard decision:

Do I live out this identity as a holy exile? Or do I compromise to make life easier?

Sound familiar?

American Idols

We may not offer sacrifices to Caesar, but we’ve got our own idols: politics, popularity, comfort, control. We bow to things that make life smoother, that keep us “in the loop” at work or school or on social media. We justify: I’ve got grace. I’m forgiven. What’s the harm?

But Peter says: Remember who you are.

“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.”
– 1 Peter 2:9

You’re not just someone trying to be a good person. You’ve been made holy by God. His Spirit lives in you. That means your life will look different. You will feel out of place. And yes—it will be hard.

Holiness Isn’t About Rules

Let’s go back to Moses.

In Exodus, Moses sees a bush burning but not consumed. He approaches, and a voice says:

“Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
– Exodus 3:5

What made the ground holy? Not the bush. Not the fire. Not the moment. God’s presence made it holy. The ground was holy because God was there.

And now? Because of Christ, God is here—in us.

Which means we are holy ground. Every step we take is sacred because God’s Spirit lives in us. Our lives are not holy because of our behavior but because of God’s presence.

Holiness isn’t about avoiding cards, dancing, or rock music. That’s legalism.

Holiness is about being so shaped by the Spirit of God that our lives reflect Him. Holiness isn’t a list of “don’ts.” It’s a way of being in the world. It’s the fruit of the Spirit showing up in everyday life—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Holy Lives for a Watching World

Peter puts it like this:

“Live such good lives among the pagans that… they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
– 1 Peter 2:12

Holiness compels us to live lives that shine. Lives that invite questions. Lives that whisper grace.

So here’s the challenge:

Are you living a holy life?
A life that reflects the presence of God?
A life that causes people not to say, “Look at you!” but to say, “Look at what God has done.”

If your answer is “Not really,” then good news: there is grace. You can start again. The Spirit is patient. Ask Him to produce His fruit in you. Practice love. Practice patience. Keep showing up. Keep stepping onto holy ground—because it’s wherever you go.

A Final Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for calling us to be holy—not as rule-followers, but as Spirit-filled people. Help us to live as exiles in a foreign land, reflecting Your presence and love to a watching world. Remind us of who we are: chosen, beloved, and made holy by You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.