So this past weekend I took a little time for myself to read an actual BOOK. And it didn't feature a singing cucumber or a little red caboose. It was glorious. I really need to make a point to read more. Anyway, the book was The Homeschool Experiment, a novel my sister loaned me. Even though it's fictional, it has a Christ-centered focus and a lot of great resources.
The book is told through the point of view of Julianne, a stay-at-home mom who has been called to homeschool. Throughout the book, Julianne struggles with self-doubt, as well as veiled (and not so veiled) criticisms from some family members about her ability to teach her children. But in the end she learns that she only needs to please God, not others. One verse that is repeated a lot in the book is Galatians 1:10: "For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ."
I read this verse again today, and it really struck me. As moms, we really try to do it ALL. Face it, we invented the WORD "multi-task." We need a clean, sparkling house adorned with DIY projects from Pinterest. Our children must be well-behaved and brilliant at all times. And some of you moms have to do all this while also holding down a job outside the home. We fear there's a stigma involved if we don't try to be SuperMom. And this attitude simply isn't from God.
Check out the last part of that verse: "If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." I looked up the word "bondservant" in the concordance of my Bible to see what exactly is involved with being a bondservant of Christ (Paul called himself one, so I'm thinking it's a good thing to be). :o)
"The Lord's bondservant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God might grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will." 2 Timothy 2:24-26
Those are all really good qualities. Especially for moms. Being kind, patient, and "able to teach" are all qualities of the mom I want to be. But I can't be those things, and everything else involved with being a bondservant of Christ, if I'm doing what I'm doing for the wrong reasons. Even if I'm kind while disciplining my son, if I'm doing it to please those watching me then I'm not a bondservant of Christ. I'm a slave to their expectations instead of to Him and His will.
God has also showed me that being a bondservant of Christ is a powerful thing; not just for me, but for my son as well. Caleb loves church, worship music, and praying cute toddler prayers that consist of "Thank You Jesus, Amen!" But I long for the day he accepts this Jesus he keeps hearing about into his heart and truly lives for him. According to 2 Timothy, being a bondservant for Christ can help others "come to their senses" (verse 26). My son is still young, not quite three years old. But when I gently correct him when he misbehaves, I may very well be helping him come to his senses. I want to be an example of that "knowledge of the truth," and help lead him to repentance so he may also become a bondservant of Christ. And this cannot happen if my focus is pleasing men (or other moms) instead of God.
I want to be able to look
back and know that I did all I could to please the Lord, and in turn
helped lead my son to Him. Because when I'm not acting like a
bondservant of Christ, I really do end up being quarrelsome, unkind,
impatient, and not so gentle. If I hand over each day to God, He can
give me the strength and mercy to be all those things that Paul
describes, even when I encounter food spills, temper
tantrums, and burnt dinners.
So I need to learn to wait on the dirty dishes and read with my son instead. To hold off on mopping the floor so we can go exploring outside. To get off Facebook and let him sit in my lap, because all too soon he'll be too old for cuddling. To trade off what I think (and what I THINK others think) should be done for what God calls me to do.
And thinking about all this is actually freeing. I feel liberated from the unrealistic expectations I put on myself all the time. Instead of thinking "I have so much to do today," or "What would so-and-so say if they saw this mess?!" I really should be asking "Lord, what can I do to please You today?" On days when I actually do the latter, I find that all that other "stuff" still gets done, or else it just doesn't seem all that important anymore.
So I'm letting go of the whole SuperMom mentality. I'd rather be a lowly bondservant of Christ instead. :o)
Showing posts with label identity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label identity. Show all posts
September 17, 2012
June 24, 2011
first fruits
"In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures." James 1:18
God brought us forth by exercising His will. This suggests a deliberate, premeditated, and purposeful action on His part. Wherever He has brought you today, it was not the result of an afterthought, a mistake, or simply a lack of action on His part. He has a will, and He never hesitates to exercise it.
God also brought us forth by the word of truth. 1 Peter 1:23 goes further to say we have been "born again...through the living and enduring word of God." He spoke the world into existence, and He spoke you into existence. His loving words not only brought us into this physical realm, but also into a lasting, amazing relationship with Him if we accept His outstretched hand and invitation.
What does it mean to be part of God's first fruits? Based on Jeremiah 2:3 and Revelations 14:4 (scriptures that were footnotes for this verse in my bible), I think it means to be set apart as holy to the Lord. In the Jeremiah scripture, the prophet states that anyone who "devours" Israel will be overtaken by disaster. So not only does God set us apart as holy, He also provides a hedge of protection around us to help keep us holy.
Additionally, being a first fruit is living your life as your sacrifice to God. First fruits of the harvest were always set aside and offered up to God as a sacrifice of thanks, a humble way of thanking Him for protecting the crops and for His sovereignty.
The verse from Revelation that's referenced above describes "chaste" followers of God following the Lamb wherever He goes, and that they "have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb" (14:4). So being a first fruit means you follow Jesus....wherever He goes and wherever He takes you. It means that you have been bought with a price, and as a result your overwhelming gratitude becomes one of the many reasons why all you want to do is follow Him.
I'm a far way away from really appreciating what it means to be one of God's first fruits. Since these first fruits are described as "among men" or "among His creatures," that means, of course, that these first fruits are set apart and certainly do not include all of God's creation. So with the many labels I'm continually adding to my identity (Chosen. Royal. Loved. Saved.), I'm adding another one to the list: First Fruit. May I continue to delve further into this part of my identity as His child.
The Means...
God brought us forth by exercising His will. This suggests a deliberate, premeditated, and purposeful action on His part. Wherever He has brought you today, it was not the result of an afterthought, a mistake, or simply a lack of action on His part. He has a will, and He never hesitates to exercise it.
God also brought us forth by the word of truth. 1 Peter 1:23 goes further to say we have been "born again...through the living and enduring word of God." He spoke the world into existence, and He spoke you into existence. His loving words not only brought us into this physical realm, but also into a lasting, amazing relationship with Him if we accept His outstretched hand and invitation.
...to the End.
What does it mean to be part of God's first fruits? Based on Jeremiah 2:3 and Revelations 14:4 (scriptures that were footnotes for this verse in my bible), I think it means to be set apart as holy to the Lord. In the Jeremiah scripture, the prophet states that anyone who "devours" Israel will be overtaken by disaster. So not only does God set us apart as holy, He also provides a hedge of protection around us to help keep us holy.
Additionally, being a first fruit is living your life as your sacrifice to God. First fruits of the harvest were always set aside and offered up to God as a sacrifice of thanks, a humble way of thanking Him for protecting the crops and for His sovereignty.
The verse from Revelation that's referenced above describes "chaste" followers of God following the Lamb wherever He goes, and that they "have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb" (14:4). So being a first fruit means you follow Jesus....wherever He goes and wherever He takes you. It means that you have been bought with a price, and as a result your overwhelming gratitude becomes one of the many reasons why all you want to do is follow Him.
I'm a far way away from really appreciating what it means to be one of God's first fruits. Since these first fruits are described as "among men" or "among His creatures," that means, of course, that these first fruits are set apart and certainly do not include all of God's creation. So with the many labels I'm continually adding to my identity (Chosen. Royal. Loved. Saved.), I'm adding another one to the list: First Fruit. May I continue to delve further into this part of my identity as His child.
May 19, 2011
mirror, mirror
Am I the only one who has the tendency to be extremely self-critical? I've become more and more aware lately of how I continuously beat myself down for everything, from not doing the dishes right away to the way my clothes fit. The latter, my physical appearance, tends to be more of an issue with me. I'm hoping this is a common thing. But more than that, I'm hoping it's easy to fix.
In the book of Ephesians, Paul prays for "enlightened eyes" for the people of Ephesus so they would know the hope to which God has called them (Ephesians 1:18). I think this should be my prayer too. Without this renewed vision, it's impossible to focus on anything but the wrong thing. Enlightened eyes help us see past the temporary and past the surface. God told Samuel the prophet that God cares more about the heart than the outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7); with enlightened eyes, couldn't I be the same way?
Every morning I look into our bathroom mirror. I see myself when I brush my teeth, wash my hands, do my makeup, and straighten my hair. All the while my eyes are staring back at me, telling me everything that's wrong. Your have dark circles under your eyes. Your hair is frizzy. Your arms are flabby. Your stomach is still fat. Sure doesn't sound enlightened, does it?
Sometimes my husband and I write little notes to each other on that same mirror using a dry erase marker. A couple of weeks ago, he wrote "I love you" on my side of the mirror, and a few days later he added "best mommy in the world!" right underneath it. It took me a few days after that to notice that in order to see my appearance, I had to look through those words written on the mirror. Although I could move toward the other side of the mirror where there was nothing blocking my reflection, I found that I had a much better view right where I was at. My husband's words of encouragement and affection effectively blocked out those dark circles and frizzy hair, and drew my attention away from what I thought I was wrong with me. I had to read those words anytime I looked in the mirror, and they helped me to "see" who I really was. I am loved, and I'm a wife and a mother. Looks SO much better now.
Maybe that's how those enlightened eyes work. Is it like putting on glasses to see everything through God's eyes, or is it like having cataracts that block out these negative thoughts and words we speak over ourselves day in and day out? Might be a little of both. Either way, I want more of His vision and His outlook. I want to quit wasting time criticizing my flaws and instead glorify Him for all the good He's given me. It's a tough thing to do, but really, it's not as though living the self-critical life is that easy either!
In the book of Ephesians, Paul prays for "enlightened eyes" for the people of Ephesus so they would know the hope to which God has called them (Ephesians 1:18). I think this should be my prayer too. Without this renewed vision, it's impossible to focus on anything but the wrong thing. Enlightened eyes help us see past the temporary and past the surface. God told Samuel the prophet that God cares more about the heart than the outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7); with enlightened eyes, couldn't I be the same way?
Every morning I look into our bathroom mirror. I see myself when I brush my teeth, wash my hands, do my makeup, and straighten my hair. All the while my eyes are staring back at me, telling me everything that's wrong. Your have dark circles under your eyes. Your hair is frizzy. Your arms are flabby. Your stomach is still fat. Sure doesn't sound enlightened, does it?
Sometimes my husband and I write little notes to each other on that same mirror using a dry erase marker. A couple of weeks ago, he wrote "I love you" on my side of the mirror, and a few days later he added "best mommy in the world!" right underneath it. It took me a few days after that to notice that in order to see my appearance, I had to look through those words written on the mirror. Although I could move toward the other side of the mirror where there was nothing blocking my reflection, I found that I had a much better view right where I was at. My husband's words of encouragement and affection effectively blocked out those dark circles and frizzy hair, and drew my attention away from what I thought I was wrong with me. I had to read those words anytime I looked in the mirror, and they helped me to "see" who I really was. I am loved, and I'm a wife and a mother. Looks SO much better now.
Maybe that's how those enlightened eyes work. Is it like putting on glasses to see everything through God's eyes, or is it like having cataracts that block out these negative thoughts and words we speak over ourselves day in and day out? Might be a little of both. Either way, I want more of His vision and His outlook. I want to quit wasting time criticizing my flaws and instead glorify Him for all the good He's given me. It's a tough thing to do, but really, it's not as though living the self-critical life is that easy either!
May 3, 2011
who are we? {part 4}
Welcome to the last installment of this series on identity. Actually, there's a lot more to be said on this subject, but as it pertains to 1 Peter 2:9, God led me to keep this series relatively short. For the previous posts in this series, just click on the tag "identity." :o)
First, let's review the verse that has served as our focal point. I know I need a quick review since these posts have had more space between them than I intended!
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).
In this last section, we'll delve further into the idea that we are "a people for God's own possession." After considering our role as the "chosen race", the "royal priesthood", and the "holy nation", this one sounds a bit more personal, doesn't it?
My oldest sister has six kids. She had a girl first, followed by three boys and a girl who naturally got more and more curious about their older sister's stuff as they got older (the sixth kid is still technically a baby, but I'm sure he'll be the same way once he's mobile. Aren't all kids?). In a house with that many people, you end up sharing mostly everything. But in the past couple of years, the rule of "the treasure drawer" has been established to maintain some sense of privacy. My niece reserves the top drawer of her dresser for what she calls her "treasures"; her camera, drawings, journals, and other special things that her younger siblings are not to touch. Everything else outside that drawer is understood to be shared, but the items in her treasure drawer are for her alone, and a sibling can only have access to them with her permission. This idea caught on quickly...now the younger siblings have treasure drawers too!
That's how we are with God, in a way. He views us as His treasures, despite our appearance or shortcomings. Like frayed or torn coloring book pages, we might also be a little rough around the edges. But God sees our value, and reserves us for a special place where no one else can touch us without His permission. Sure, the enemy can mess with our circumstances; God may allow some hardships to come our way and it may seem that we've been stolen from the drawer and left in a dusty corner somewhere all alone. But we never lose that "treasure" status with God, as long as He is the Lord of our lives.
Although my niece's treasures are safely kept in her drawer, she still takes them out and uses them. She snaps pictures with her camera, reads her journals, or shows her mom pictures she's drawn. But she still watches over them and protects them the entire time they're outside of the drawer to make sure her siblings don't misuse them. It's the same with us. There's intimacy, security, and comfort to be had in that treasure drawer, but we are also called to serve God outside of it so we may "proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." We are here to glorify God and to testify to His goodness and mercy, and we can do that in a variety of ways, whether it's witnessing to someone who's searching, preaching a sermon, or simply going to work every day because God has called us to that job to provide for our family. And the entire time we carry this purpose out, we are still in God's hand. He still protects us as if we're safely hidden away in a drawer. No one has access to us without His permission.
If something is "for your own possession" and is extremely important to you, you're going to guard it with your life and make sure it doesn't get lost, stolen, or misused. God sent His Son to die for you and has called you "His own possession." Sounds like you're pretty important to Him, huh?
As we end this series on identity, I'll leave you with two questions to mull over.
First, let's review the verse that has served as our focal point. I know I need a quick review since these posts have had more space between them than I intended!
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).
In this last section, we'll delve further into the idea that we are "a people for God's own possession." After considering our role as the "chosen race", the "royal priesthood", and the "holy nation", this one sounds a bit more personal, doesn't it?
My oldest sister has six kids. She had a girl first, followed by three boys and a girl who naturally got more and more curious about their older sister's stuff as they got older (the sixth kid is still technically a baby, but I'm sure he'll be the same way once he's mobile. Aren't all kids?). In a house with that many people, you end up sharing mostly everything. But in the past couple of years, the rule of "the treasure drawer" has been established to maintain some sense of privacy. My niece reserves the top drawer of her dresser for what she calls her "treasures"; her camera, drawings, journals, and other special things that her younger siblings are not to touch. Everything else outside that drawer is understood to be shared, but the items in her treasure drawer are for her alone, and a sibling can only have access to them with her permission. This idea caught on quickly...now the younger siblings have treasure drawers too!
That's how we are with God, in a way. He views us as His treasures, despite our appearance or shortcomings. Like frayed or torn coloring book pages, we might also be a little rough around the edges. But God sees our value, and reserves us for a special place where no one else can touch us without His permission. Sure, the enemy can mess with our circumstances; God may allow some hardships to come our way and it may seem that we've been stolen from the drawer and left in a dusty corner somewhere all alone. But we never lose that "treasure" status with God, as long as He is the Lord of our lives.
Although my niece's treasures are safely kept in her drawer, she still takes them out and uses them. She snaps pictures with her camera, reads her journals, or shows her mom pictures she's drawn. But she still watches over them and protects them the entire time they're outside of the drawer to make sure her siblings don't misuse them. It's the same with us. There's intimacy, security, and comfort to be had in that treasure drawer, but we are also called to serve God outside of it so we may "proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." We are here to glorify God and to testify to His goodness and mercy, and we can do that in a variety of ways, whether it's witnessing to someone who's searching, preaching a sermon, or simply going to work every day because God has called us to that job to provide for our family. And the entire time we carry this purpose out, we are still in God's hand. He still protects us as if we're safely hidden away in a drawer. No one has access to us without His permission.
If something is "for your own possession" and is extremely important to you, you're going to guard it with your life and make sure it doesn't get lost, stolen, or misused. God sent His Son to die for you and has called you "His own possession." Sounds like you're pretty important to Him, huh?
As we end this series on identity, I'll leave you with two questions to mull over.
- Do I truly understand my identity as one for God's own possession, as one of His very precious treasures?
- In what ways do I proclaim the excellencies of God?
April 27, 2011
Who are we? {Part 3}
Yikes. Sorry it's taken me so long to post again. I really need some prayers concerning time management! Lord, help me to seek You first! Thank You for Your grace and for speaking through me as I type out this post. On to Part 3. :o)
In Part 1 of this series on 1 Peter 2:9, we learned that we are a chosen race.
In Part 2, we learned that we are a royal priesthood.
Today, we'll focus on the fact that we are a holy nation. What does that mean for our identity as Christians?
This "holy nation" idea was by no means a new idea when Peter wrote this verse. If you read Exodus 19:3-6, God Himself called Moses and the Israelites a holy nation. He calls them this right before He gives Moses the Ten Commandments and other parts of the Law.
You've probably heard that "holy" means "set apart," usually for some special purpose. By calling His people "holy," God was setting them apart from all the other peoples of the earth. He gave them the Law so they would know that their holiness could only come through Him, and also so they would know how to walk that holiness out. That meant being different from everyone else, from the food that they ate to the way they bathed, and from the holidays they celebrated to the pastimes from which they abstained. It meant performing multiple sacrifices a year, whether for giving thanks, commemorating an event, or confessing a sin. And it meant being united under Him; that's where the "nation" part comes in. While they were to be separate from everyone else, God called His people to also be united in a single purpose: to obey His voice and keep His covenant (see verse 5 of Exodus 19). In other words, to bring Him glory.
God set the bar high for His holy nation given the depth and complexities of His Law (just keep reading past Exodus 19 and you'll see what I mean!), and in His sovereignty He knew that there was no way imperfect humans could ever fulfill the Law within their own power. As hard as they tried, the Israelites fell short of His glory time and time again, and we do the same today (see Romans 3:23). That's where Jesus comes in. He served as the ultimate sacrifice, cleansing everyone's sin once and for all, and ushering in a new covenant that focuses more on forgiveness than performance.
Although we live under this new covenant and are free from much of the confines of the Law from the old covenant, we are still called to be a "holy nation" today. What does that mean for us? It means being different and set apart from everyone else by walking in God's will and reflecting His glory. Others may call you "strange," "radical," or "boring" based on how you live out this purpose. It may mean giving up certain things in order to focus more attention on God and others. In everything, however, "set apart" simply means living by God's standards instead of the world's standards.
Let's not forget the "nation" part. We are also called to be united in our mission to be set apart. Kind of a paradox, isn't it? What else would you expect from a God who strikes to heal (Isaiah 19:22), or whose Son left the riches and glory of Heaven to be born in a lowly stable and live the simple life of a carpenter before beginning His ministry? God often works within the paradox and the least expected. Just another example of how His thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9)! Though we're called to be set apart, we're also called to work together. Though we were created to be different, we're called to be "perfectly united in mind and thought" (1 Corinthians 1:10). That means that we Christians were not set apart in order to look out for our own interests, but to serve and to fellowship with other Christians as a unique and "holy nation."
This part of our identity can be difficult to carry out in the world we live in today. The anonymity of online social networking, the distractions of a more hurried pace in life, and the existence of numerous denominations within the Christian faith can potentially compromise our ability (and really, our desire) to enjoy united fellowship with other believers and to truly live our lives as set apart for Christ. We were meant to be holy, and we were meant to be a nation. Set apart, yet united together for Him. What does that mean for your identity, and for your life? Please pray that God will begin to reveal to you your place in His holy nation. Come to Him with open hands for whatever He wishes to give you, or to take away. And ask Him for His help in living out your identity in Him.
In Part 1 of this series on 1 Peter 2:9, we learned that we are a chosen race.
In Part 2, we learned that we are a royal priesthood.
Today, we'll focus on the fact that we are a holy nation. What does that mean for our identity as Christians?
This "holy nation" idea was by no means a new idea when Peter wrote this verse. If you read Exodus 19:3-6, God Himself called Moses and the Israelites a holy nation. He calls them this right before He gives Moses the Ten Commandments and other parts of the Law.
You've probably heard that "holy" means "set apart," usually for some special purpose. By calling His people "holy," God was setting them apart from all the other peoples of the earth. He gave them the Law so they would know that their holiness could only come through Him, and also so they would know how to walk that holiness out. That meant being different from everyone else, from the food that they ate to the way they bathed, and from the holidays they celebrated to the pastimes from which they abstained. It meant performing multiple sacrifices a year, whether for giving thanks, commemorating an event, or confessing a sin. And it meant being united under Him; that's where the "nation" part comes in. While they were to be separate from everyone else, God called His people to also be united in a single purpose: to obey His voice and keep His covenant (see verse 5 of Exodus 19). In other words, to bring Him glory.
God set the bar high for His holy nation given the depth and complexities of His Law (just keep reading past Exodus 19 and you'll see what I mean!), and in His sovereignty He knew that there was no way imperfect humans could ever fulfill the Law within their own power. As hard as they tried, the Israelites fell short of His glory time and time again, and we do the same today (see Romans 3:23). That's where Jesus comes in. He served as the ultimate sacrifice, cleansing everyone's sin once and for all, and ushering in a new covenant that focuses more on forgiveness than performance.
Although we live under this new covenant and are free from much of the confines of the Law from the old covenant, we are still called to be a "holy nation" today. What does that mean for us? It means being different and set apart from everyone else by walking in God's will and reflecting His glory. Others may call you "strange," "radical," or "boring" based on how you live out this purpose. It may mean giving up certain things in order to focus more attention on God and others. In everything, however, "set apart" simply means living by God's standards instead of the world's standards.
Let's not forget the "nation" part. We are also called to be united in our mission to be set apart. Kind of a paradox, isn't it? What else would you expect from a God who strikes to heal (Isaiah 19:22), or whose Son left the riches and glory of Heaven to be born in a lowly stable and live the simple life of a carpenter before beginning His ministry? God often works within the paradox and the least expected. Just another example of how His thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9)! Though we're called to be set apart, we're also called to work together. Though we were created to be different, we're called to be "perfectly united in mind and thought" (1 Corinthians 1:10). That means that we Christians were not set apart in order to look out for our own interests, but to serve and to fellowship with other Christians as a unique and "holy nation."
This part of our identity can be difficult to carry out in the world we live in today. The anonymity of online social networking, the distractions of a more hurried pace in life, and the existence of numerous denominations within the Christian faith can potentially compromise our ability (and really, our desire) to enjoy united fellowship with other believers and to truly live our lives as set apart for Christ. We were meant to be holy, and we were meant to be a nation. Set apart, yet united together for Him. What does that mean for your identity, and for your life? Please pray that God will begin to reveal to you your place in His holy nation. Come to Him with open hands for whatever He wishes to give you, or to take away. And ask Him for His help in living out your identity in Him.
April 13, 2011
Who are we? {Part 2}
For Part 1 of this series on identity, go here.
Thanks for coming back for Part 2! First, let's read the focus verse of this series again:
Thanks for coming back for Part 2! First, let's read the focus verse of this series again:
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
1 Peter 2:9
Today we're going to delve into the idea that we are a royal priesthood, an idea that was made into a reality with Jesus' death and resurrection.
So what does it mean to be in a royal priesthood? First, let's hone in on that word royal. When I see that word, I think of a kingdom. Kings and queens also come to mind, along with "royal family" and reigning with power. Guess what? If you're a child of God and have trusted Him to be the Lord of your life, you're part of His royal family. He reigns over you with love and mercy (along with some loving discipline when needed!), but unlike an earthly king who usually has strict and limited opportunities for an audience, you're allowed free access to your Heavenly King and you have His undivided attention. And as Christians we're destined to reign with Him as well, because we have been purchased by the blood of Jesus. As John writes in the book of Revelation: "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign over the earth" (5:10).
So what does it mean to be in a priesthood? Think about the priesthood of the Old Testament. They were all Levites, descended from a special bloodline. According to Exodus 40:15, they were qualified for the priesthood by both their bloodline and an anointing. They had sacred duties within the temple and were in charge of performing sacrifices on behalf of the rest of the people. Just one priest was allowed to enter the holy of holies (the shrouded place where God's presence rested), and only once a year. Priests interceded for the people and served as a "go-between" when others needed atonement for sins they had committed.
According to the book of Hebrews, these priests were replaced by Jesus when He rose from the grave and established a new covenant with His "permanent priesthood" (7:23-25). His death was the ultimate sacrifice that was a once-and-for-all covering for mankind's sin. Through the Holy Spirit, we're allowed constant access to God's presence without a shroud and without the limitations of a singular location like the holy of holies. He was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and with power (Acts 10:38), and He continuously intercedes for all of God's children (Hebrews 7:25). Much better than a human "go-between," right?
Where is our place in this permanent priesthood? The Bible says we are to fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2), and make Him our ultimate example on how to live and how to walk out our faith. We have also been anointed by God (1 John 2:20), and as His anointed we are called to carry out sacred duties for His kingdom. These sacred duties are the "spiritual sacrifices" mentioned earlier in 1 Peter 2 (verse 5), and can be things like intercession, serving others, leaning on God through hardship, studying His word, seeking intimacy with Him, evangelizing, sharing words of knowledge with others, exercising our spiritual gifts, etc. Basically whatever Jesus did during His stay here on earth. These spiritual sacrifices have been made acceptable to God through His example, and so we are called to do them as well.
In Part 1, we learned that we are chosen. Reading further, we realize that we are chosen to be part of a royal priesthood. Not because of who we are or what family we are born into (much like how a royal family or a bloodline of priests operates), but because of who God is and our willingness to let Him rule first and foremost in our lives. The next time you find yourself struggling with your identity, remember: You are part of a royal priesthood that will last forever. If the identity you're trying to live in doesn't allow for this kind of reality, toss it for your true identity! :o)
Stay tuned for Part 3!
April 11, 2011
Who are we? {Part 1}
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
1 Peter 2:9
Identity is so important in the life of a Christian. Life just seems to make more sense when we know who we are and what we're called to do. Unfortunately, many times we find ourselves taking on the wrong identities and getting lost within them. These false identities can have many origins, including:
- Our ancestors or family history. "Everyone in my family has struggled with alcoholism, so it's just a matter of time until I do too."
- Our circumstances. "Things are so hard at my job right now; maybe I'm just not smart enough to cut it."
- The words of others. "My friend told me to cut back on the desserts; I guess I'm just fat."
- The words we speak over ourselves. "I keep falling back into the same pattern of sin over and over; God must be so frustrated with me....I'm really not worthy of His love."
- The words God speaks over us. "You are my servant, I have chosen you and have not rejected you" (Isaiah 41:9).
So, in order to live a life of victory, it's vital that we learn who we are as children of God and walk in that identity everyday. Doing so will help us recognize false labels the world may throw at us in order that we may deflect them and leave them on the ground where they fall.
The Bible is full of examples of our true identity, and contains many spiritual role models who lived out that identity, such as Abraham, Moses, David, Joshua, Caleb, the prophets, Peter, Paul, and most importantly, Jesus. One verse that helps label at least some of our identity is 1 Peter 2:9, which is found at the beginning of this post. Let's concentrate on each label one by one, starting with the subject of today's focus:
A CHOSEN RACE.
I recently wrote a post about this very thing. Knowing and believing with conviction that you are chosen is an excellent place to start in determining your identity; perhaps that's why Peter named it first in his list. If we're not chosen, than there's not much else to base our identity on. Think about it. If coming to know God just happened by chance, or we somehow stumbled upon Him, would it really be that important to know who we are in Him? We'd probably just wonder if God did everything at random and without thought, including molding and shaping us into His image.
Deuteronomy 10:15 says that God sets His affection on the people He chooses. I love that thought. The word "sets" implies that He gives His love with intention and purpose, and the word "affection" sort of goes beyond love in a way, doesn't it? Kind of like loving your grandmother because she's family, but also having affection for her because of what she means to you. It's the same way with God. He loves us because we are His children, but He has set His affection on us because He has chosen us.
Pray that God will begin to show you who you are in Him and what He has called you to do. Ask for Him to remove any false and burdensome labels that have weighed you down, and to help you recognize when another one is trying to latch onto you. We were made for so much more than we realize, and we were chosen by God in order that He may show us what that "more" is. Stay tuned for Part 2, and thanks for reading! :o)
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