Holy, Chosen, and Treasured

Introduction

Deuteronomy 7:6 finds the children of Israel standing on the edge of something new—about to cross into the land God has promised and led them to.

They're in the wilderness, just east of the Jordan River, and Moses is speaking to them one final time before they go in. The Greek translation of the Hebrew text calls this book literally the "Second Law"—the idea being that Moses is reiterating the heart of God for His people, calling them to stay true to their identity and calling.

The Hebrew title for Deuteronomy is simply "Words"—highlighting Moses' farewell speeches to the people of God. He's led them for 40 years through the wilderness, and now they're on the cusp of receiving what God has promised.

So what does this have to do with us?

In Romans 11:17, Paul tells us that we as Gentiles have been grafted into the root. Grafting is when you take a branch from one plant and join it to the root system of another so they grow as one. Through Jesus, we've been grafted into the people of God. We're part of the same family, the same story.

Ephesians 2:11-22 deals specifically with this that we are no longer foreigners to the covenants of promise but have been brought near by the blood of Christ. While I won’t read the whole passage, and exert would be:

Ephesians 2:19–20 “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”

God loves His people. God genuinely loves all people—but not all people acknowledge Him for who He is. We've all gone astray; we call that sin. And we need to be saved from it. In Jesus, we see God's heart for us.

Deuteronomy 7:6 isn't just about how God feels about the Israelites—it's about all who are called by His name, who bear His name. And we can see God's heart for us in these words.

In Jesus, we are holy. We are chosen. We are treasured.

When we think about ourselves—the lens we use to examine who we are—let us use Scripture to inform our identity, not our own perception (which is usually shaped by the worst things we think about ourselves).

Just like the Israelites stepping into a new land, a new beginning, we're stepping into a new year. New opportunities. New challenges. A unique vantage point to continue seeing God's faithfulness.

As we move into this new year, what a gift it will be to remind ourselves who we are in Jesus. And next week, based on what we understand today, we'll look at what faithful presence looks like—in our world, in our community.

What we will see this morning is that we are Holy People, a Chosen People, and a Treasured People. Holy, Chosen, and Treasured.

But let's jump into our text this morning. If you have your Bibles or devices, please turn with me to Deuteronomy 7:6. And if you're willing and able, would you stand with me as I read God's word?

This is the word of the Lord, let’s pray.

This one sentence is so tied together it shows it’s depth, breadth, length, and height about how God thinks of His people. Those who are called by His name.

A holy people, chosen by God to be His people, a treasured possession.

Moses goes ahead and qualifies it too… Deuteronomy 7:7–9 “The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”

Holy

We are a holy people.

To be a holy people means to be set apart. Not just set apart but also dedicated to. This morning I don’t want to talk about what it means to be holy by what we do or don’t do, though I think they are intricately tied together, for an instrument/tool/utensil that is set apart for a specific purpose has to be used or its of little value.

Holy means set apart: Lets not be misguided, "set apart" doesn't mean being separate from people, but being distinct for people. A surgeon's scalpel is set apart—not locked away in a case, but used for healing. Does that shift our understanding of holiness? Are we set apart to be kept safe, or set apart to be useful in God's hands?

Know that God’s desire and intention is to use you in the lives of those whose sphere you are in as an instrument of His.

Ordinary things made sacred: Think about wedding rings, family heirlooms, or a tool passed down from a grandfather. These aren't inherently different from other rings or tools—but they're treasured because of whose they are and what they represent. We're not holy because we're better; we're holy because we belong to God. What does it mean that God looks at us the way you look at something irreplaceable?

You are desired by God. Period. Any other voice outside or in your head is a liar. Because you are His, you are made holy.

Identity before activity: We’ve already said it, "an instrument set apart has to be used or it's of little value." But here's the paradox—it's set apart , then used. We don't become holy by what we do; we're holy, so we do. How does that reorder the way we approach obedience, service, or mission?

Knowing you are holy to God, let that move you towards mission and service as He leads you. We do it because that’s who we are.

Being a holy people is tied directly being to a chosen people… being chosen means we bear the gift of responsibility.

Moses tells the people why God has

Chosen

We are a holy people chosen by God to radiate and demonstrate the reality of Him to the world.

Israel was set up as a light to the nations… it was a come and see approach. That as they lived in relationship with YHWH, their nation, their lives would be in such stark contrast to the suffering in the world around them, it would be to the glory and truth of the living God that loved and ruled in Israel. (Spoiler alert: they were an unfaithful people).

Not only does Jesus call those who follow Him the light of the world, but now that light, the church, is missional in sending light, bringing the good news of the glorious gospel to the ends of the Earth… which includes not only the far reaches of the globe but Kitsap County.

We are chosen of God to reveal who He is to the people that we love, work with, play with, are neighbors with, and to be explicit, the people we just don’t like or don’t like us.

Chosen ≠ Superior: Moses makes it clear: God didn't choose Israel because they were impressive. They were the fewest. What does it say about God that He chooses the small, the overlooked, the unlikely? And what does that mean for us when we feel disqualified or inadequate?

Chosen to bless, not hoard: Israel was chosen to be a light to the nations—not to keep God to themselves. What happens when we treat being chosen as exclusive privilege rather than missional responsibility? How does that show up in our lives—do we hoard what we've received, or do we extend it?

Excess in the Hebrew Scriptures was always an invitation by God to give to those who had less. The wicked hoarded while the righteous gave to the priests, poor, sick, widow, foreigner, and the sojourner.

The weight of being known: To be chosen is to be seen. God knows who we are—our strengths, our failures, our potential—and still says, "You're mine." That's both comforting and terrifying. What does it mean to live as someone who is fully known and still fully chosen?

We need not chase or depend on the acceptance of people who might otherwise seek to take advantage of us. I can tell you that I’m capable of so much more knowing that I don’t need to face fear of rejection, alienation, or humiliation.

Treasured

This word means something that belongs to you, it’s a prized/treasured possession. Jesus would say, Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

You are His treasure. You have His heart. Think on that. Remember that.

You Guard What You Treasure: People lock up what they treasure. They insure it. They protect it. If we're God's treasured possession, what does that say about how fiercely He guards us? And how does that security free us to live boldly rather than fearfully?

Treasured despite, not because: God treasures us not because of our performance but because of His love. Think about parents with their kids—you don't treasure them because they're perfect; you treasure them because they're yours. How does that dismantle our performance-driven thinking?

Living like we're treasured: If you truly believed you were God's treasured possession, how would it change the way you walk into a room? The way you handle failure? The way you see the person next to you (who is also treasured)? What would shift if we lived from treasure rather than striving to earn it?

The Israelites are standing on the edge of the Promised Land, but they've been holy, chosen, and treasured the whole time—even in the wilderness. Your identity doesn't wait for the breakthrough. You're already who God says you are, even in the in-between.

It starts with love, moves to calling, and results in purpose. Not the other way around.

Conclusion

Church this is the heartbeat of the gospel right here.

Being → Doing vs. Doing → Being

One is freedom; the other is exhausting.

One is grace; the other is performance.

Moving into a New Year, this is what we need to remind ourselves of—we don't need another resolution to become someone. We need to be reminded of who we already are in Christ, and then we live from that place.

You are holy, chosen, treasured. Next week, we are released into mission: We live out our identity with faithful presence.

The beauty is that Week 2 isn't adding burden—it will be showing us how our identity naturally expresses itself in the world. We’re not climbing a ladder to earn God's approval; We’re already standing on solid ground, and now we get to walk it out.

Church, you are genuine, kind, already loving people— what a gift it is to name what God is already doing in us and calling it forward.