New Month, Renewed Hope

“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Eph 1:15-23

Praise the Lord!

We serve an awesome God. A God who created this world and everything in it. He spoke and it came into being. A God who demonstrated His power over and over again in the Old Testament—from raising a young boy from shepherd to king of Israel to stopping the sun in the sky to bringing victory to an army of 300.

We serve a God who sacrificed His own Son for our sins—and then raised him from the dead.

Hallelujah for Jesus reigns!

Jesus, the Son of the Most High God, sits at His right hand. The Son who was made man, who walked among us for a time, showing us how to live and love one another. A Savior who, in obedience, hung on a cross that we might live. He offers us eternal life through his death. King of kings, he rules the church—his bridegroom, his body. And now, he is the Great Intercessor, interceding on our behalf.

What an encouragement to contemplate as we enter the holiday season! We have so much power at our fingertips. We are sons and daughters of God, we share in the same inheritance that Christ has (1 Peter 1:3-5). We need only have faith. Faith that God is who He says He is, faith that Christ’s death was not in vain. When we embrace who we are in Christ, we open the door for God to work in our lives and bless us beyond what we could ever imagine.

Let’s start this month with praise and worship for our Creator and our Savior. Let us raise our hands, our voices, and our hearts, pouring out our thanksgiving and our hopes, but also allowing God to fill us with His Spirit that we may live life…not just live it, but live it abundantly (John 10:10).

VOTW - A Chosen Generation

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10

A chosen generation—

A royal priesthood—

A holy nation—

His own special people—

What a glorious inheritance we have received in our salvation! Upon accepting Christ as our Savior, we were adopted into the family of God. We became Sons and Daughters of God, brothers and sisters in Christ.

Belonging to a family comes with both joys and responsibilities. Being part of God’s family is no different.

A chosen generation: God offered the ultimate sacrifice in the death and resurrection of his Son to call us to Himself. Those of us who heed that call are chosen. We are chosen to be part of the family, and we are also chosen to serve Him in a way worthy of our calling.

A royal priesthood: When we accepted Christ as our Savior, we were gifted with the presence of the Holy Spirit inside of us, speaking to us on spiritual matters. As a result, we are changed, not just internally, but on the outside as well. We lead by example. In the rest of the book of 1 Peter, Peter shows us how Christians are to live, talking about such matters as submission to those placed over us and suffering for God’s glory.

A holy nation: What is a nation, but a unity of people under the same governing body. In our case, we are believers united in Christ under God’s protection. And, as with any nation, we are all unique individuals who must work together to ensure the nation runs smoothly. God sets us each aside for His specific use.

His own special people: Once we were lost, and now have been found. Adopted into the holy family of God. Verse 10 says that once were not a people, but now we are part of God’s people; once we did not know mercy, and now we do. God’s mercy. We are human—sinners in need of redemption—and God showed us mercy. Praise be to the Father!

The list of joys and responsibilities could go on and on outside of these verses. However, we know that ultimately "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Eternal life in the family of God, at home in Heaven.

Today is Monday and we enter into a new week. We should consider how our words and actions reflect both the joys and responsibilities of being adopted into God’s family.