God's View of Us
June 17, 2015
Devotions:
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." (1 Peter 2:9-10 KJV)
This is God's view of us. We were chosen by God not because we act right but because we are in Jesus. God has chosen the world of people but they must receive His election of them. Jesus said that many will not receive the free gift of salvation, no strings attached, because they deeds are darkness and they love the darkness more than the light so they will not turn to the light and be saved.
We are a royal priesthood. We do not go to a priest to intercede for us before God because we have a High Priest, Jesus and we are all priest under Him. God hears our prayers and we hear from God. We need no man to give absolution from our sins because Jesus, our High Priest, has already provided absolution in His blood forever. God says that you are a priest before Him, do you believe that? Do you see yourself as a priest? or someone who continually needs a priest? We need to be open to help each other but there in none above another.
We are a holy nation. All the saints of God are then kingdom of God, a nation before Him. This should supersede all natural and cultural boundries. We are holy that is set apart exclusively unto God for His pleasure, that He might lavish His love upon us.
We are a peculiar people. that is God's special treasure. You are not someone who God barely tolerates and is close to despising but your are His special treasure.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."
(Matthew 13:44-46 KJV)
In these two parables about the kingdom of heaven, the man and the merchant are the same, Jesus. The treasure is Israel and the pearl of great price is the church. You are that pearl of great price. Pearls are formed in the clam when a grain of sand gets in the clam and causes irritation. We are that pearl of great price which come through the trials and troubles of our lives and we turn to Jesus and He surrounds with a precious covering of His glory. In the darkness we are to show forth the praises and glory of Him. We are the people of God who have obtained mercy.