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Devotion From Identity Crisis to Christ: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2 9 (NIV) Who am I? Have you ever thought to yourself, Why was I born? What is my purpose? 1 Peter 2:9,10 gives us great insight into who we are. According to these verses we are
Regardless of what we think about ourselves or what people tell us, this is what we are: a generation and nation of priests called to live a holy and sanctified life. Armed with this knowledge, let's investigate what we've been "chosen" to do. Now What? 1 Peter 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. God is building us up so we can pour it out on the altar before Him. Priests offer up sacrifices. It doesn't sound as glorious as it did a minute ago, does it? Yet, it was through suffering that Christ purchased us, and the world. Paul, Priest of the People Acts 9 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. Paul's purpose was to bear God's name before the Gentiles (unbelievers), kings and the sons of Israel. Paul, a Jew, was sent to his own people last. Although he longed for them, his assignment was to the Gentiles first. As the verse explains, Paul, like us, was a chosen instrument in God's hands. No matter where Paul was--shipwrecked, imprisoned, in the desert-he was ministering Christ. Material for Sacrifice Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual[] act of worship. As priests, we are to offer up our physical bodies as sacrifices. Sounds rough, doesn't it? It gets deeper. God also requires these bodies be in a certain condition when we offer it: living, holy and acceptable. Lest we balk at His request, God goes on to remind us that this is a reasonable request. We must sacrifice the desires of our flesh to accomplish God's will. The Sacrifice of Souls Romans 15 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. The offering mentioned here is the Gentile's souls. Paul saw every conversion as on offering and part of his service. God may never be as specific with us, as He was with Paul, but we should always be praying and seeking His will as to where we should serve. The Sacrifice of Stuff Philippians 4 17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. Paul desired fruit, treasures in heaven, stored up for the Philippian believers. With so many needs screaming for attention, it is easy to forget the deficits in our heavenly accounts. The Sacrifice of Praise Hebrews 13 15 - Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name We are to continually offer God the sacrifice of praise. That's right, we are to praise the Lord with our words and songs. Whenever we give this sacrifice to God, it blesses us too. The Sacrifice of Service Lest we get spiritual and think we are only to go around thanking God all day, God gave Hebrews 13:16: But to do good and communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. God is well pleased with active service and communication with others on his behalf. Ouch. That's going to cost a little more, huh? Don't worry, with all of God's requirements He gives us a measure of faith to live them out. These are but a few of the sacrifices outlined in scripture. However, they are all nothing compared to the ultimate sacrifice Christ gave by becoming flesh and dying for our sins. Christ showed what the sacrifice of one can do for the many. May we all, as chosen priests be willing to offer up ourselves, our praise, our stuff, and our service so that Jesus, our High Priest, might win the world. Information: To learn more about Jesus as the high priest, read Hebrews 7. Application: Write a purpose statement for yourself based on 1 Peter 2:9. Scripture used for the New International Version Bible (NIV)
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Marilynn Griffith is a freelance writer living in Florida, with her husband and six children. Her recent credits include CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE CHRISTIAN WOMAN'S SOUL, FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE, CRUMBS IN THE KEYBOARD and more. Visit her onlnie at