The summertime often has people hoping for significant "before and after" experiences. Perhaps the hope to return from holiday rested rather than exhausted, or tanned rather than pale.
The greatest "before and after" is the one that Jesus gives to His people: “Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2v10).
Peter writes to these Christians, a small somewhat-beleaguered group, and tells them that God has called them out of darkness into His wonderful light. He tells them “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession."
Four ways union with Christ changes everything
During a wedding, a groom will say to his bride: “All that I am I give to you, and all …