Daily Devotions based on the Sermon Series: “STRANGERS in the World”
Week 6 of 7: “Strangers…Am I the only one?”
Full Sunday message, CLICK HERE
5 IDENTITIES God wants you to embrace!
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a CHOSEN people…”
It was a tense moment on the playground. The teacher chose two kids to be “captains.” Then they started selecting classmates one at a time until all were on a team. It stunk to be the last person chosen. Sometimes the captains could be heard to say, “I guess we’ll have __________ on our team.” If you weren’t good at sports, this is probably a familiar feeling. It’s no fun to be left out.
As we get older perhaps the stakes get higher. Applications for college scholarships. Resumes for a dream job. Dating the perfect person. All of these we simply want to be chosen. We want to be selected by someone who matters…the captain, the college, the boss, the date.
When we’re not chosen, it hurts.
Being chosen says we matter. It says someone believes in us, values us, and wants us part of their team.
That’s why these words of Peter are so powerful. “YOU are a CHOSEN people…”
In the Old Testament this was the term God applied to the people of Israel. They were the ones God chose to be his people, the family through whom the promised Messiah would come. It wasn’t because they were better, smarter or more God-fearing. God simply chose Israel and his descendants as an act of grace to be his people.
Deuteronomy 7:6 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. 7 The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8 But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers …
God chooses you because he loves you. Consider this. The almighty, perfect, loving Father has CHOSEN you to be one of his own, to be part of his people! It’s not that you or I are better, smarter, or even more God-fearing. It was a selection of grace.
Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last” (John 15:16).
It’s exciting when your college of choice sends you an acceptance letter…you’re chosen! It’s a great day when your new company calls and says, “You’re chosen!” It’s a wonderful feeling when the captain wants you on his team…you’re chosen!
How much greater it is to hear God say to you…I CHOOSE you!
Embrace this gift of grace…out of all the peoples on the face of the earth…God CHOSE YOU!
Apply: How does this truth affect you when you feel rejected or not chosen?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for choosing me. I know I don’t deserve it, but I thank you for choosing me by your love and grace to be part of your family. AMEN