May 9

From Pastor Gary....
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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 brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)
 
Notice God’s work in this verse. As God chose Israel, so too He chosen you and all who believe to be a nation. By definition, a nation is a people with a common connection. Our common characteristic is faith in Jesus Christ. This nation has no borders but is found wherever God’s people live. We are His possession because He purchased us by the blood of Christ. St. Paul wrote that God “Chose us in him from the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4).
 
Our verse also reminds us that he chose us for a purpose; “That you may proclaim the excellencies of him who brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” God called us out of the darkness of unbelief and sin and into the light of his grace. Paul also reminds us of God’s work in our lives when he wrote, “By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2: 8-9).But also remember verse ten; “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
 
Father in Heaven; thank you for choosing us to be your people. Give us the strength to proclaim all that you have done, and continue to do for us, through Christ. Amen.
 
Verse for today:
I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of everything good that is in us for the sake of Christ. (Philemon 1:6)