Welcome!
Passage: 1 Peter 2 (NIV 84)
Today: People of (a Holy, Loving) God!
9 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. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2, NIV 84)-emphasis added
One of the topics I am most interested in, is “the Church”. So you will see that more often in these daily devotions, than any other topic
God is excited about the church; Jesus said, “I will build my church”. Jesus claimed His ownership of the church, and he vowed to build it
In the O.T, we see how God wanted to have a people of His own, whom He calls His precious possession (Deu 7: 6-8). God created man with the very intention of having a people that He can have for Himself, who will worship God and live as the family of God, loving God and each other in the same, “agape” love
Today, the church is facing all types of opposition from the outside, while the enemy is working from within in various ways, unknown to most!
Moses stated the two most important conditions/principles for being the people of God: the presence of God, and being a unique, seperated people for God
Both of these qualities tell us of the Holiness of God
It is not that we have to keep a distance from others or and run away from them; Jesus loved the sinners so much that others made an issue about it; but the same Jesus hated sin so much that no one could find a sin in Him
Some people blame their “situations and circumstances” for the sin they do
In His high preistly prayer in John 17, Jesus prayed for His disciples
14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify[b] them by the truth; your word is truth. (John 17, NIV 84)
When we live by the word, the world will start hating us. (Jesus said that)
Many churches don’t teach the word as it is, because of various reasons. One reason is that many Pastors don’t have the confidence to preach it. Another reason is that the church don’t want to hear such preaching. But by avoiding topics that are important to God, they are making a big mistake!
High School students/11th & 12th graders are sometimes sent to places where they get coaching for certain tests. If the trainer wants to avoid certain topics because the students don’t like it much or because the trainer himself/herself finds it hard, many will fail in the test
Then, the one who paid the cost, will come and “grill” the trainer, but the damage is done already!
What kind of a church is the true one? The one that just makes and keeps you happy, or the one that speaks the truth in love?
Have a wonderful day, as you ponder on this
BG
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for being the word for me. Help me to really discern between the right and the wrong and to live like Daniel, at a time when the apparent church is compromising with the world. Help me stay true to you. Amen
We can either be people of the word or people of the world; not both!