1 Peter 2

1 Peter 2:9-10 – “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

I was at Faithwalkers this year, and was really struck by a teaching given by Dan Rude. I encourage you to listen to it if you haven’t already. In short, he spoke on how God designed Christians to proclaim to the world the greatness of God. He asked us, “Does the Gospel make your heart sing? Is the Good News good to you?” Wow. I honestly wasn’t sure how to answer at first.

The Gospel message requires action and words, wisdom and love, and upon sharing it, often is scary and anti-climactic. It isn’t shared by accident. It must be intentional. Yet this is what we were saved for. It cost Jesus everything. It is a marvelous, free gift that we can share with everyone. So why is it hard to get excited about sharing it with EVERYONE around us?

Like 1 Peter tells us, we need to remember who we truly are. I think how we identify ourselves directly affects how our hearts feel towards the Gospel. Do I identify myself as Luke’s wife, mother of four, homeschool teacher, Ames-ite, etc. before I identify myself as Christ’s possession? As part of a holy nation? Does my mouth proclaim my trials or complaints before it proclaims the praises of our marvelous God? Wow. It struck me deep. This is an area I need to grow in. I haven’t got this figured out yet.

So, I have no success tips to share, just an encouragement to think and pray on this.

I did want close by sharing a song by Keith and Kristyn Getty called “My Worth Is Not in What I Own”. They wrote this song to remind us that the call to follow Christ involves a refocusing of our values and loves, as well as a life of self-sacrifice for the greater joy. It goes like this:

My worth is not in what I own
Not in the strength of flesh and bone But in the costly wounds of love
At the cross.

My worth is not in skill or name In win or lose, in pride or shame
But in the blood of Christ that flowed At the cross.

CHORUS
I rejoice in my Redeemer Greatest treasure Wellspring of my soul
I will trust in Him, no other

My soul is satisfied in Him alone.

As summer flowers we fade and die Fame, youth, and beauty hurry by But lie eternal calls to us
At the cross.

I will not boast in wealth or might Or human wisdom’s fleeting light But I will boast in knowing Christ At the cross.

CHORUS
I rejoice in my Redeemer Greatest treasure Wellspring of my soul
I will trust in Him, no other
My soul is satisfied in Him alone