March 15, 2021: To Be God's Chosen People, We Must Be Willing to Live as God Wants Us to Live.

In the Book of 1Peter, the Apostle gives us four characteristics of the church and then followed by a purpose statement. He describes us as a "chosen people", "a royal priesthood", "a holy nation", and "God's special possession". Our purpose as "Christians", God's chosen people, is to "declare the praises" of our God who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light and has given us "true rest" for our lives.

I Peter 2: 9-10 (NIV)

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.

This was also the purpose of the Jewish nation of Israel, but they failed God and ended up crucifying their very own Messiah and Savior. In the Old Testament, God had stated to the people of Israel the purpose of them being led out of captivity from Egypt into the Promise Land.

Exodus 19: 4-6 (NIV) (God speaking to Moses)

4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

Deuteronomy 7: 6 (NIV)

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

You see, just as the people of Israel had a purpose in their "special calling", so do we who have come to know and accept our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. We are His "Ambassadors" to this world, a world that is heading toward destruction without a Savior.

2 Corinthians 5: 20 (NKJV)

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

So how are we to be an "Ambassador for Christ?" First and foremost, we are not to try to be an ambassador on our own strength. The people of Israel failed God in this way. We must allow the Holy Spirit to control our lives. We must be completely and fully "absolutely surrender" before God and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us day-by-day in all we do for God.

PERSONNAL COMMENT:

This is possibly one of the hardest things to do...to allow the Holy Spirit to fully control our hearts, our minds, and actions. Remember what it says is Galatians 2: 20: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”. If we are filling our minds with God's word daily, praying and asking God for His directions with everything we do, and fully trusting God with our life, then we are on the way of living a "Spirit-filled Life". Amen!