This Changes Everything

I was working on a part two for the VFD post, but what Megan said just tied everything together and changed things. Homer speaks of it as what is holding us back, I made a reference to not putting out the fire that God starts in us and Megan brings it home with her post.

"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. 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. " I Peter 2:9-10

Sometimes I over think things. Pastor said this was due to our Greek heritage, the need to know it intellectually. The Jewish school of thought is just to do it, to look at the instruction and say, "How can I live that?" Let me tell you, those ideas are oceans apart and are the main problem with why we struggle in our Christian walk. I am completely guilty.

Read Megan's post again. Its a perfect example of this. Peter reminds us that we were chosen...and while we have the freewill to make our own choices, God is calling us, each of us, to him. He's picking up to be on his team, we just need to join the game. Peter says we are a royal priesthood. Not to be too detailed, but at one time, only the priests were allowed to get near God in the Holy of Holies area of the temple. You now have the privilege, to be in His presence, continually.

We were called out of darkness, to do what? We have been made into a Holy nation to do what?

To declare the praises of the One who claims YOU as His special possession. You are special to Him. This the the same God that wiped out YOUR sin for HIS sake. Do we get that at all really? If you have ever been lovesick and would do anything to talk to that one special person, multiply that by infinity. And what does He want in return for this? Declare His praises.

Declaring His praises happens in alot of ways. Through worship, through working the storehouse, through being a part of class, serving, loving each other. All of this is meant to draw the attention not to us, but to the one making it happen....our God, our Father.

When we pull ourselves away, by not taking part in worship, by being emotionally removed, by not being available at all, we fail at what we were made to do. So let's put aside what holds us back, let's quit putting out the fire that God has lit in us, and raise some hands. Let's be involved in the process and witness to the Glory of God. We are told to taste and see that the Lord is good. You can't taste if you never try it. Get in there, drink deep of His Glory. Start simply, it is not complicated. Worship when we worship, sing out with your voice, be present in youth, present in your mind, not tied up in your phone. Raise hands BEFORE you have to be broken down to finally do it. No one who does these things, like raising hands in worship and experiencing the presence of God, regrets it and wishes that they had waited a few more years.

"Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts." Isaiah 26:8