By sis Mary Ann Catolos
“... You are a CHOSEN people,
a ROYAL priesthood, a HOLY nation,
A PEOPLE TO BE HIS VERY OWN
and to proclaim the wonderful deeds
of the One who called you
out of darkness into his marvellous light."
1 Peter 2:9
CHOSEN means selected. ROYAL- dignified. HOLY- physically pure, morally blameless. Apostle Peter said this is US, God’s special people! Many a times we forget who we are -- our true identity. And in turn, we underestimate how our lives can be used by God to influence others. We have to remind ourselves that we are to proclaim the wonderful deeds of the One who called us.
How do we fulfill this if our lives are too focused on the struggles of this earthly life? Job 14: 1 says, “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.” Genesis 3: 17 also say of this human condition, “…cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.” Yes, life is difficult! But to be nonchalant, uninvolved, indifferent, unsympathetic, frozen Christians is not exactly representative of those who have been called out of darkness of sin into His marvelous light.
How do we fulfill this if our lives are too independent from each other? This generation takes pride in being self-sufficient, in a way that we are like little islands on our own. We lose our sense of community. The Hebrews writer exhorts us in Hebrew 10:24 to “… consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,”
As we strive to be godly influence to others, consider these points Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians:
Stand firm in the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:15). Yes, we can be full of spirit but if there is no truth in us, we will lead others astray.
Continue in every good work and word (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17). Our actions speak volumes! Luke 6:45 puts it profoundly, “For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Our words reveal what is in our hearts and we manifest them through our actions. If we are to draw others to Christ, may His characteristics be reflected through our words and deeds.
Develop a lifestyle of prayer (2 Thessalonians 3:1). Without the shedding of the blood of Jesus, we cannot go to God in prayer. So count it a privilege to be able to commune with God, connecting His Spirit and ours. And what better way to get the comfort and joy we need to share with others other than the source, Our Almighty Father.
Keep obeying the Lord (2 Thessalonians 3:4). Godly influence will only be achieved if we ourselves are godly. Living obediently before the Lord happens if we let our lives be moulded by the Potter’s hand.
Let us be intentional to become faithful in all these ways, so that our confidence in our faith in God will lead people to marvel and to know the God whom we serve and call Our God.
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