God chooses, Jesus rescues, but we must decide where to reside.
Verse of the Day, May 18, 2022
1 Peter 2:9-10 CSB "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. [10] Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."
The Apostle Peter says God builds the church on the foundation of promises found in the Old Testament Temple. God chose one man, Abram (chosen race), to become a nation that trusted and obeyed God (holy nation). People who belong to God believe in and follow His plan (possession). God directs His people into all his benefits (called from darkness into marvelous light). Saved sinners are declared holy and placed into a community (the church).
The Old Testament priests prepared (cleansing rituals) and entered God's presence (temple). After being in the presence of God and His holiness, the priests exited changed (made holy; royal priesthood). Now reflecting the holiness of God's presence, the priest stood and proclaimed God's gift (guidance into the pleasure of God's blessings) to His people. (Genesis 12:1–3; Exodus 19:6–6; Deut 10:1–11:32; Is 43:20–21; Nu 6:24–26). God chooses individuals for salvation and places us in a community (the church) to proclaim His benefits to the rest of the world.
Peter reminds us that we were rescued and justified individually by grace through faith (1 Peter 1:3; Ephesians 2:8–10). Grace is receiving an undeserved gift (restored in relationship with God). Mercy is not receiving what we deserve. Instead of alienation, we have been reconciled. We are chosen one person at a time to become God's children. We are being fitted together with all believers into the temple of God (place of God's presence). Jesus is the Cornerstone. We are living stones being added to the magnificent heavenly structure called the church.
Dear gracious and merciful God, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy, has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Christ Jesus from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3). Thank You, Lord, for choosing me as Your possession (child of God). I am blessed to be a part of the royal priesthood of believers. As an individual priest, keep me close to Your holiness and clean from the world's defilements (secular culture). Thank you for making me a citizen of the kingdom of heaven (living under Jesus' rule over my life).
Thank You, Jesus, for rescuing me from the darkness of the culture's lure and the seduction of Satan's deception and placing me in the church (royal priesthood of believers) so that we may go in for renewal and come out praising the glory of Your holiness (marvelous light). Today, O Lord, sanctify me, so everyone sees that my Jesus saves me, that I now live in Your kingdom and belong to Jesus forever and ever. I am a child of the living God (possession). I get to serve in God's holy presence, united with Christ, joined with other believers to become everything He saved me to be (holy and set apart for service). In Jesus' name, amen.
Daily Devotion
God chooses, Jesus rescues, but we must decide where to reside.
Verse of the Day, May 18, 2022
1 Peter 2:9-10 CSB "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. [10] Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."
The Apostle Peter says God builds the church on the foundation of promises found in the Old Testament Temple. God chose one man, Abram (chosen race), to become a nation that trusted and obeyed God (holy nation). People who belong to God believe in and follow His plan (possession). God directs His people into all his benefits (called from darkness into marvelous light). Saved sinners are declared holy and placed into a community (the church).
The Old Testament priests prepared (cleansing rituals) and entered God's presence (temple). After being in the presence of God and His holiness, the priests exited changed (made holy; royal priesthood). Now reflecting the holiness of God's presence, the priest stood and proclaimed God's gift (guidance into the pleasure of God's blessings) to His people. (Genesis 12:1–3; Exodus 19:6–6; Deut 10:1–11:32; Is 43:20–21; Nu 6:24–26). God chooses individuals for salvation and places us in a community (the church) to proclaim His benefits to the rest of the world.
Peter reminds us that we were rescued and justified individually by grace through faith (1 Peter 1:3; Ephesians 2:8–10). Grace is receiving an undeserved gift (restored in relationship with God). Mercy is not receiving what we deserve. Instead of alienation, we have been reconciled. We are chosen one person at a time to become God's children. We are being fitted together with all believers into the temple of God (place of God's presence). Jesus is the Cornerstone. We are living stones being added to the magnificent heavenly structure called the church.
Dear gracious and merciful God, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy, has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Christ Jesus from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3). Thank You, Lord, for choosing me as Your possession (child of God). I am blessed to be a part of the royal priesthood of believers. As an individual priest, keep me close to Your holiness and clean from the world's defilements (secular culture). Thank you for making me a citizen of the kingdom of heaven (living under Jesus' rule over my life).
Thank You, Jesus, for rescuing me from the darkness of the culture's lure and the seduction of Satan's deception and placing me in the church (royal priesthood of believers) so that we may go in for renewal and come out praising the glory of Your holiness (marvelous light). Today, O Lord, sanctify me, so everyone sees that my Jesus saves me, that I now live in Your kingdom and belong to Jesus forever and ever. I am a child of the living God (possession). I get to serve in God's holy presence, united with Christ, joined with other believers to become everything He saved me to be (holy and set apart for service). In Jesus' name, amen.