Called to Proclaim

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. 1 Peter 2:9 ESV

I like this devotional from JustWorship.com written by Steve Pruitt:


Have you ever felt the excitement of being chosen for something? Maybe a school mate chose you as
a best friend. Maybe during P.E. class you were chosen first by the team captain. Maybe the teacher chose
you to answer the question out of all the kids who held up their hand. Maybe you have been chosen by
your boss to receive a promotion, a pay increase or to assist on an important project.

Have you ever thought about how an orphan feels when, out of all the kids in the orphanage, the
prospective parents chooses him or her? Well, that is exactly what happened when God chose us. The
Greek word used for chosen means to select, elect, or favorite. The Greek word used for race (generation
in the KJ) means “kin.” In other words God selected us to be kin to him.

God also made us a royal priesthood; members of the kingly sacred order. He made us a holy nation;
a sacred tribe and a peculiar (KJ) people (his own possession). The Greek word used for peculiar means
acquisition, purchased, or possession. God paid a price for us to be kin to him. We have been bought,
redeemed by the blood of Jesus to be a people for his own possession.

Why did he purchase us? Was it because we deserved it? Was it because he loves us? Certainly he
loves us, but the purpose for our purchase goes much deeper. Peter says the reason God chose us is that
we may proclaim the excellencies (praises KJ) of him who called us. The Greek word for proclaim means
to publish and celebrate. To publish means to bring to the attention of the public. Certainly this goes way
beyond what happens on Sunday morning during church.

We are to publish the praises (Gr. valor, virtue, excellent) or excellencies of him who called us. The
word excellencies derives from the word excellence  which means the state, quality or condition of excelling; superiority, pre-eminence, something in which a person or thing excels; a surpassing feature or 
virtue. Our means of publication is not only what we say, sing or write but also how we live.  

Have you been chosen by God? Do you proclaim his praises or his excellencies by what you say and
how you live? Ask the Father to let your light shine so that man may see your good works and glorify the
one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Scriptures for meditation:
1 Peter 2:4-5 
John 15:16 
Ephesians 1:4 
Titus 2:14 

Copyright © 2007 Steve Pruitt/justworship.com

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

"Looking unto Jesus." (Hebrews 12:2)

Here's another devotional by Charles Spurgeon which encourages us to keep our eyes on Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.

It is ever the Holy Spirit's work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan's work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead of Christ. He  insinuates, "Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you do not repent enough; you will never be able to continue to the end; you have not the joy of his children; you have such a wavering hold of Jesus." All these are thoughts about self, and we shall never find comfort or assurance by looking within.

But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: he tells us that we are nothing, but that "Christ is all in all." Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee---it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee---it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument---it is Christ's blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith.

We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by "looking unto Jesus." Keep thine eye simply on him; let his death, his sufferings, his merits, his glories, his intercession, be fresh upon thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning look to him; when thou liest down at night look to him. Oh! let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow hard after him, and he will never fail thee.

"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name."

Haggai

The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the Lord Almighty. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord Almighty, have spoken! (Haggai 2:9 NLT)

The following is a worship profile of the Old Testament prophet, Haggai, from the Praise and Worship Study Bible published by Tyndale House. This is a great study bible for all those who want to learn more about biblical worship.

Haggai

After the Exile, God's people returned to Jerusalem, although they were officially still under Persian rule. After a time, the people began to suffer hardship, and the prophet Haggai diagnosed the cause of their problem: Their economic poverty was a reflection of their spiritual poverty. The Temple-rebuilding project had been left half-finished, while the people turned to building their own fine houses (Hag. 1:9). So Haggai roused the people from their indifference, and the rebuilding of the Temple was resumed. For this effort of worship
renewal, Haggai promised the people hope and blessing.

Haggai the Worshiper

Haggai recognized that the people needed to reorganize their priorities, placing the worship of the Lord first. (Hag. 1:2-11).

God promised that His glory would return to the Temple and that He would dwell with his people, bringing them peace (Hag. 2:7-9).

Learning from Haggai

Haggai reminds us that our first priority should be our worship of God, which then determines the priority of all other things. Jesus underscored this when he promised that the Lord "will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern" (Matt. 6:33).

Haggai reminds us that true greatness comes from the glory that the Lord bestows on us (Hag. 2:7-9).

Following the Example

Haggai was not content to let God's people go about their own affairs, leaving the Temple to lie in ruins. Instead, he forced them to rethink their priorities in light of their worship of the Lord. Today we often fight an uphill battle against spiritual apathy. Many people attend church but ignore God in much of their daily life. Like Haggai , we must encourage these people to worship God in all areas of life, making his Kingdom our first priority that determines all other priorities.