Devotion's by Deborah

Devotion 3-27-24, 1 Peter 2:9a "But you are a chosen race , a royal priesthood , a holy nation , a people for God’s own possession," Who is "you?" "You" are all who have been truly saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. We become a "royal priest" in God's "holy nation." When we enter into His death on the cross, we enter His resurrection from the dead. We then belong to God, we are His possession. We become a "royal priest," and we have a specific calling on the rest of our lives. We are no longer our own, we have been bought. This is true of each and every person, man or woman, boy or girl, who prays for Jesus to forgive his/her sins and take over control of his/her life. The remainder of 1 Peter 2:9 says, "so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." This one verse summarizes all of our life in Christ. We were chosen, by God, because of His great love. We enter His holy nation of believers with several defined jobs. As "royal priest," we pray. We pray, not for ourselves exclusively but for the world, for sinners to be saved, for healing, for deliverance from evil, for God's glory to be witnessed, for anything and everything. We pray. As God's own possession, we proclaim. We proclaim God in every thought, word, and deed. We proclaim Him and all He does. We proclaim His light, His salvation, His love, His compassion, His long-suffering patience, His universal power and authority. But, we especially proclaim His love. These jobs are not just defined for pastors, those who preach and teach God's word. These jobs define each and every person who becomes a child of God. Just because you are shy, or an introvert, or emotionally damaged, or accustomed to bad language, or any excuse available, you are chosen and called. Obey God, love Him by being who He says you are in Him.