Aspen Trees
This is the third installment on 1 Peter. Specifically verses: 1 Peter 2:9-10. Here Peter explains our higher calling.
1 PETER 2:9-10, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV)
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, 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 2:9-10, THE MESSAGE (MSG)
9-10But 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—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.
1 PETER 2:9-10, EASY-TO-READ VERSION (ERV)
9 But you are his chosen people, the King’s priests. You are a holy nation, people who belong to God. He chose you to tell about the wonderful things he has done. He brought you out of the darkness of sin into his wonderful light. 10 In the past you were not a special people, but now you are God’s people. Once you had not received mercy, but now God has given you his mercy.
Of the three versions, the words that stand out the most to me are: “speak out for him (God), to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.”
How glorious would it be that we could all gather for a weekend retreat and meet and talk over hot cocoa and fire toasted marshmallows about what God has done for each one of us.
Or maybe you don’t have that kind of story… or at least you don’t feel that you do. If so, know that God loves you and that He wants to spend eternity with you. In fact, He wants you to be with Him so badly that He sent His only Son to die on your behalf – as a ransom for your sins to set you free to live in His holy presence for all time. Think of it, no more pain, no more suffering, abiding alongside the creator of heaven and Earth.
I know that I know that I know that Jesus Christ is who He says He is because He has transformed me and my life, and blessed me with so much more than I deserve. And as my life itself is a witness, I also look to Jesus’ disciples. They did exactly as I would have done after His death on the cross, they went into hiding – for fear of death. The Pharisees and leaders at that time had beheaded John, stoned Stephen and hung Jesus on the cross – the disciples knew their fate so they ran and hid.
What overcame their fear of death? They saw Him, Jesus, in the flesh, risen again. In fact, they were so convinced that He died and rose again, every single one of them went from being a man in hiding to being one who testified that Christ was exactly who He said He was – the son of God. They testified to the death. Beaten, stoned, boiled in oil, hung on a cross upside down and the list goes on. They got over their fear of death and found… resurrected, new life.
Romans 10:9
If you openly say, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from death, you will be saved.
Romans 10:8-10 (in Context) Romans 10 (Whole Chapter)
Pray, ask Him to come into your heart and take over the throne room of your heart. Surrender your life to Him and ask Him to show you how to be transformed. Ask for and receive forgiveness and healing. Pray for mentors, pray for wisdom and discernment in selecting a church, and read His word. It’s very easy to do what has been done here, you can read different versions and compare for free at Bible Gateway You can have resurrected, new life.
ROMANS 10:11-14, (ERV)
11 Yes, the Scriptures say, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed.” 12 It says this because there is no difference between those who are Jews (good news for the Gentiles a.k.a. non-Jews) and those who are not. The same Lord is the Lord of all people. And he richly blesses everyone who looks to him for help. 13 Yes, “everyone who trusts in the Lord will be saved.” 14 But before people can pray to the Lord for help, they must believe in him.
I asked the Lord to take over my life and then I asked Him to show me how to change. I didn’t ask just once, I kept asking and diligently seeking Christians and church fellowship, and my life has never been the same. It’s so much better. I pray He richly blesses you as you seek Him and as He brings “you out of the darkness of sin into his wonderful light.”
In His Grip,
Monica
For previous posts on this study, please go to:
1 Peter Study
1 Peter 2
