1 Peter 1:9-10(ESV) “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
BUT! What a great way to start the day. Sometimes you have to get your BUT in gear. Sometimes you need to be reminded that God put a BUT in the story.
BUT YOU! Now it’s personal. Today we’re going to talk about you. There’s only one you. There’s not another person on the planet with your personality, your exact DNA, eye color, or fingerprint. You are uniquely loved and chosen by God. Do you believe that?
We all need to be reminded who we are, and not by all the voices from people who don’t believe in us. Not from jokers from our past who want to blame us for their failures. Not from the lies of the enemy. Not from a stupid choice you made in 7th grade you keep thinking about.
You need to hear the voice of God over your life today. You are chosen. Brought into a new family, a new nation with a new King. You are a special possession belonging to One who brought you out of your dark past into a new, bright reality where His light shines and makes every shadow of doubt, fear, and insecurity run for cover.
You are a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD! Two beautiful images. Divine royalty. Marked by God with direct access to the throne of God. You don’t need a priest to enter the temple and make sacrifices on your behalf. You have One who already paid the price for your sin, and you have direct access to the God of the universe. You don’t need me as a pastor to pray you into salvation. You don’t need a YouTube preacher or superstar Christian icon to go to God for you.
You can sing in His presence, dance in your freedom, shout songs of victory, and lift up your heart to Jesus. He hears. Now let’s face it. At one point you couldn’t do it. You were separated. You were not a part of the family. You were not in the kingdom, but now, if your trust is in Jesus, you are HIS!!
Oh, I pray this fills you with HOPE today! Write these words on a card or the notes app on your phone. Put them on a screenshot, and share them online. Let them be your screensaver, a reminder to your heart all day today.
I am CHOSEN. I am royal. I belong to Jesus. I am a part of a priesthood. I am special to God. I am liberated from sin and death. Today. This is who I am.
Do you receive it? Maybe you have a bunch of doubts right now, and it’s hard for you to see yourself the way God sees you. I want to encourage you right now to ask Him to give you His eyes on you, view yourself from His perspective. The wonderful reality is that His choosing us isn’t based on our perfection or ability to perfectly follow His ways.
It’s mercy. Now you have received mercy. Grace is God’s unmerited favor where we get what we don’t deserve, but mercy flows from God’s kindness and spares us from what we deserve because of our sin and brokenness. This is all made possible by Jesus’ one act of death on a cross.
Peter understood this because he had been changed by mercy. He knew what it was like to live “without mercy” and to live as a “product of mercy.” Now he invites us to let mercy be the theme of our song. It’s hard to hear these lyrics that Peter throws down without mercy erasing all of our doubts, fears, and insecurities.
Before we wrap up, I wonder if you would allow God’s kindness and mercy to step into the room for a moment. I know it’s really uncomfortable for some of us to be on the receiving end. Before we march into pouring out for the day, let mercy be poured in. Let Jesus’ eyes of perfect love cast out all fear. Let Him speak to you, son. Let Him hold you, daughter. Enough mercy to erase a lifetime of failures is present in the room today!
Come Holy Spirit, and help us know the heart of God! Open our eyes. Help me see me the way The Father sees me.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Mercy is from God’s kindness …i need to mirror this so many times to extend this mercy to others
I belong to Jesus and His perfect love casts out all my fears!
Those words really encouraged me this morning. I need to be reminded of who I am.
Wow, I am a priest with direct access to the God of the universe? This is some thing I should celebrate enthusiastically every day and never take for granted.
Good reminder to not listen to the lies of the enemy. Theses lies have caused me endless pain. Good to know that I’m royal and now I can be set free.
This is so on point the accuser (satan) is always pointing out what I do wrong bringing up my past I love the prayer God help me to see me the way you see me I copied and paste on to word and will post these in my house as a reminder thank you Church family for loving me and allowing me to love you back.
Thank you Pastor
This is real hope. In Christ alone and the words you speak to us daily give me strength to get through each day.
Praise the Lord! Pastor Andy You preach the gospel and that has the power to save!!! The gospel has the power to save!!! Works cant flesh can’t only the Gospel through His Spirit! Inheritance of shalom peace in the heavenly realm where our struggle is not against flesh and blood but the heavenly realm. Let ur kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven! Jesus our righteousness the breastplate to protect our hearts. The ministry of righteousness so we can come boldly to ABBA and we can reign and we can be bold in ministry bec we are made holy by the blood! ? Hebrews 10:10
Peace shalom wholeness health has been bought by His stripes and blood. But u through His poverty might become rich. But by His stripes we are healed. By His blood we are made righteous. By His redeeming blood we are redeemed from the curse. Cursed is He who is hung on a tree. That’s our Living hope!! The I am.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us PEACE was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:5 NIV
Thank u Pastor Andy! The covenant of Peace. ““To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”
Isaiah 54:9-10 Shoes with the gospel of peace.
“There’s only one you. There’s not another person on the planet with your personality, your exact DNA, eye color, or fingerprint. You are uniquely loved and chosen by God. Do you believe that?”
I believe I am unique and have god-given talents to share with the world. I always like when you say that we are chosen by God as this is such great motivation to keep pressing forward with life and his mission. Thank you Jesus for your mercy.
Thank u for His perfect love! He looks at you with eyes of love and adoration! If His love is an ocean high and deep and wide we are sinking and drowned by His love!
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.