Year of the Bible: Part Eleven of TwelveSample

Chosen

In today's reading, we find words like "living stones," "chosen race," "royal priesthood," and "holy nation." What does all that mean? We hear "identity in Christ" but often fail to ponder what that means. These verses give us insight into the answer to that question.

We, too, are chosen, just like Jesus. "Chosen" means to be picked out—favored. We have been selected and favored by God to offer spiritual sacrifices. A spiritual sacrifice means offering your whole self—body and soul—to God for His service and glory. We have been called a holy nation: a people separated from the world to exemplify living in right relationship with a Holy God. We have been brought into a relationship with God that only the living stone, Jesus, can secure. We have been given the privilege of proclaiming God's awesome goodness to those who remain outside God's family so they, too, may come into relationship with God.

Question: Do you think of yourself as chosen? Do you consider the privilege of offering up your whole life to God as a life-giving action? Do you recognize that you are a royal priest? If you say yes to those questions, give glory to God, who has given you a revelation of life. If you say no to those questions, ask the Holy Spirit to give you His mind in this matter.

Prayer: Father, thank you for building me into Your house, a house filled with Your Holy Spirit, so that I may offer my whole self to You. Thank you for revealing whom You say that I am. Grant me Your grace to fully embrace my new identity. May Jesus be glorified in all that I am. Amen.