“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.” 1 Peter 2:9
Due to the rejection of the Jewish religious leaders in accepting Christ as their Messiah, the gentiles were allowed to be grafted into the promise. The Jews were unwilling to see what the eyes of faith could clearly see, that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the One sent by Almighty God to free all men of the bondage of their sin. Those who embrace Christ as their savior and Lord are now a part of the chosen. We have been made a priesthood and holy nation unto God. We are of incalculable value to God. He created us to praise and worship Him. If all He ever did for us was save us from our sin that would have been more than enough; but He offered, in addition, to provide for and sustain us in all situations. He gave us the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to instruct, guide, direct and enable us to do all things to the honor and glory of God. We weren’t in darkness as we would be going through a dark tunnel with light at the other end; we lived in complete and total darkness as one who lost power due to a tremendous storm. God, in all His gracious mercy, saw fit to draw us out into His wonderful light where we may live forever if we so choose. He has set us apart. We are the branches that have been grafted onto the vine. Our hope lies in Christ and in nothing else. When calamity strikes, do we curse God as Job’s wife encouraged him to do in Job 1:9 or are we to cry out to God for an extra measure of His mercy and grace to be poured out upon us. While I would never presume to know why certain things happen in life, nor would I render a guess as to why devastation wreaks havoc upon the earth, I do know this: I have chosen to believe that God is who He says He is and He has a reason for all that He causes or allows. Those who curse God have no hope except that which lies within them. That hope, over time, will fade and be snuffed out due to circumstances beyond their own control. Those who trust God no matter what befalls them shall always have a small flame of hope flickering within their heart and soul. God takes care of His own and that alone is worth praising Him for.
Walk with the King today and be a blessing!
