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1 Peter 2:9 - A Chosen People to Shine for Jesus.1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 (AMP) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God's] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 (MSG) But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you-- INTRODUCTION In Old Testament times, people did not approach God directly. A priest acted as an intermediary between God and sinful human beings. With Christ's victory on the cross, that pattern changed. Now we can come directly into God's presence without fear (Hebrews 4: 16), and we are given the responsibility of bringing others to him also (2 Corinthians 5: 18-21). When we are united with Christ as members of his body, we join in his priestly work of reconciling God and humanity. People often base their self-concept on their accomplishments. But the importance of our relationship with Christ transcends our jobs, successes, wealth, or knowledge. We have been chosen by God as his very own, and we have been called to represent him to others. Remember that your value comes from being one of God's children, not from what you can achieve. You have worth because of what God does, not because of what you do. [Life Application SB 2019] The church is God's appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been God's plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory. AA 9 COMMENTARY PEARL God's Special People In these final hours of probation for the sons of men, when the fate of every soul is so soon to be decided forever, the Lord of heaven and earth expects His church to arouse to action as never before. Those who have been made free in Christ through a knowledge of precious truth, are regarded by the Lord Jesus as His chosen ones, favored above all other people on the face of the earth; and He is counting on them to show forth the praises of Him who hath called them out of darkness into marvelous light. The blessings which are so liberally bestowed are to be communicated to others. The good news of salvation is to go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people... The coming of Christ will take place in the darkest period of this earth's history. The days of Noah and of Lot picture the condition of the world just before the coming of the Son of man. The Scriptures, pointing forward to this time, declare that Satan will work with all power and "with all deceivableness of unrighteousness." 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10. His working is plainly revealed by the rapidly increasing darkness, the multitudinous errors, heresies, and delusions of these last days. Not only is Satan leading the world captive, but his deceptions are leavening the professed churches of our Lord Jesus Christ. The great apostasy will develop into darkness deep as midnight. To God's people it will be a night of trial, a night of weeping, a night of persecution for the truth's sake. But out of that night of darkness God's light will shine. PK 716, 717 COMMENTARY This Light of Mine An Amazing Fact: Chips, a mixed-breed canine hero of World War II, participated in the invasion of Sicily. When his handler's infantry unit was pinned down by gunfire, Chips broke away and charged the machine gun team. The Italian unit abandoned their fortification and was captured. For bravery in this and other circumstances, Chips was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star; the Purple Heart, and eight battle stars. These were later revoked by a new policy stating that animals could not receive military decorations. During World War II, some of America's cities ordered citywide blackouts because of the bomb threat. Windows were covered with black shades, cars drove without headlights, and men were not to smoke a cigarette outside - it was said a lighted match could be seen from the air miles away. One family was instructed to extinguish the fire in their fireplace because of the glow from the chimney. The block warden warned, "One small light could change everything?" In the darkness of that long-ago night in Bethlehem, Jesus became that one small light. He changed everything. He said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12). He proclaims, "You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). You and I are the ones He depends on to show His love to a dying world. "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.... If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:5-7 NIV). That's it - fellowship with one another! That's how we share the light. Some believe that those who have won many to righteousness will shine as the stars forever and ever. But unlike Chips, those stars won't be taken away. [Moving Mountains by Amazing Facts] God's Great Family When you accept Christ as your Savior, you become part of God's great family. Today's Bible promise assures that you are part of "a chosen generation," that is, personally selected by God. You are "His own special people" This does not mean "peculiar" in the sense of being strange or odd, but rather in the sense of being God's personal treasure. At one time, the Israelite nation was God's chosen people. But because of unbelief and hardness of heart, they lost this favored position. Peter explains that God has now given the church the privileges and responsibilities of being His representatives on Earth. People from every nation have been invited to join together as one family under God. To "proclaim the praises" of God, to show the excellencies of His character, we must respond to His call to walk no longer in the darkness of ignorance but in the light of truth. This cannot happen in our own power but only through the promised infilling of the Holy Spirit. By reflecting the likeness of Christ in our words and actions, we reveal that we are part of God's great family. You can be part of this treasured family, not through belonging to some earthly lineage, but when you, by faith, become a child of God. He is calling you. Heavenly Father, I respond to Your call and choose, by faith, to join Your treasured people. [The Most Amazing Bible Promises by Amazing Facts] You Were Created On Purpose With Purpose At some point or another, we've all felt like we don't belong. Maybe you've thought to yourself, I have no idea what I'm doing here. I don't fit in, and no one would miss me or even notice if I left. But when you belong to the family of God, you no longer have to wrestle with not fitting in. You are chosen. You are in a royal priesthood. You are holy. You belong to God. You are created by Him and for Him. You'll never be abandoned. Created things have purpose. There is just one you. You have a unique calling, a reason for being. It's the second part of this verse. Your purpose, as one highly valued by God, is to declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness and into marvelous light. Don't buy into the lie that you are expendable. You're not. Your praise matters because it brings Him glory and echoes out to the people in your life that He is positioning you to serve. Dear God, by Your Spirit, may I embrace my designed purpose today and praise Your name for all to hear. [Grace and Glory by Louie Giglio] ILLUSTRATION My husband, Scott, is a pastor, and together we have shared his ministry for twenty-three years. I'd taught Sunday school and was on the worship team before we married, so being a leader at church has shaped my life. It's who I am. How I define myself. Two years ago, we left the San Francisco Bay area church we'd planted fifteen years earlier and moved to Idaho. Scott took a position in a large company to follow his passion for marketing. But the 180-degree turn left me feeling uncertain what my next step would be. Ministry, paid or not, was my career. I went from leading on the platform to sitting in the pew. I felt like I was having an identity crisis. If I wasn't a pastor's wife or in ministry, who would I be in our new church? As I mulled this over with Jesus, a realization dropped into my mind. My identity was not in what I did but whose I am. Pastor's wife or not, I am just me - God's creation, chosen and loved by Jesus, a royal priesthood, a daughter of the King. I'm called to share His love and praise Him whether I'm in an official ministry or not. My title has changed, but my identity has not. I am His. And that's enough. Susanna Foth Aughtmon Faith Step: Write down what you do, your jobs, accomplishments, and duties - how you see yourself. Pray over the list and ask Jesus to show you whose you are and how He sees you. [Mornings With Jesus 2023 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan] CLOSING PEARL God gave these instructions to Aaron and his sons, the line of Israel that would serve as priests for the nation. Their role was to go before God on behalf of the people. Entering into the presence of Holy God requires purification. Sprinkling blood on the ear, thumb, and big toe was an act of consecrating one's ears to hear the Word of God, one's hands to perform sacrifices, and one's feet to lead the people to worship. We New Testament believers are also priests (1 Peter 2:9), and our consecration is necessary. What are you doing - what are you avoiding - in order to have an ear that is sensitive to the Word of God and not deafened by the noise of the sinful, fallen world? What do you do - and what do you avoid - in order to keep your hands clean and ready to serve? And where do you go - and what places do you avoid - in order to lead people to worship God? God has made clear provision and instruction so you can serve Him honorably. Are you? [Being Still With God Every Day by Henry Blackaby re Exodus 29:20] LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY 1 Peter 2:9 - God's Great Family. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240801-1211.html 1 Peter 2:9 - Jesus Can Be Your Lifeline. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230123-0955.html 1 Peter 2:4-6 - Living Stones of God's Temple. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220131-0921.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |