In the past...
But you are a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. You were chosen to tell about the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. At one time you were not a people, but now you are God’s people. In the past you had never received mercy, but now you have received God’s mercy. (I Peter 2:9-10)
A chosen people - chosen for a purpose. The purpose? To tell the world about the wonderful acts of God - especially his 'action' of redemption. The 'righting' of the world through the grace we find in Christ Jesus. Whether we are willing to admit it or not, we all live in a 'dark place' without Christ. We make decisions that are self-directed, and we don't always make wise ones. With Christ at the center of our lives, we are called to live lives that reflect the light that comes when his grace enters our lives. That 'telling' is our role - but even the empowerment to 'tell' is given by God himself.
Scripture does much to point out the 'before and after' of life with God in control vs. life without him in control. Numerous examples are given of the 'with and without' experience. Either you have entered into his mercy, or you have not. There is no middle ground on that matter. Notice that there is also this 'past' and 'present' condition of heart that is referenced. The moment we receive grace, there is a past. The more we invite Christ into the present, the past is put behind us.
We are called - chosen to live a life where Christ is enthroned in the very center of it. Christ cannot be on the 'fringes' of our lives. That isn't where he belongs. As long as we attempt to keep him at the 'fringes', we will never know fully what grace has done for us. We only experience the depth and breadth of those actions of grace when he is at the center of our lives. If we want to see real and lasting change within our lives, it begins with the invitation to come to him. Then it continues on with us allowing him to be the center of our thoughts. As our thoughts begin to be affected by grace, all the rest of the stuff we find to be a part of the 'past life' will begin to drop away. Just sayin!
A chosen people - chosen for a purpose. The purpose? To tell the world about the wonderful acts of God - especially his 'action' of redemption. The 'righting' of the world through the grace we find in Christ Jesus. Whether we are willing to admit it or not, we all live in a 'dark place' without Christ. We make decisions that are self-directed, and we don't always make wise ones. With Christ at the center of our lives, we are called to live lives that reflect the light that comes when his grace enters our lives. That 'telling' is our role - but even the empowerment to 'tell' is given by God himself.
Scripture does much to point out the 'before and after' of life with God in control vs. life without him in control. Numerous examples are given of the 'with and without' experience. Either you have entered into his mercy, or you have not. There is no middle ground on that matter. Notice that there is also this 'past' and 'present' condition of heart that is referenced. The moment we receive grace, there is a past. The more we invite Christ into the present, the past is put behind us.
We are called - chosen to live a life where Christ is enthroned in the very center of it. Christ cannot be on the 'fringes' of our lives. That isn't where he belongs. As long as we attempt to keep him at the 'fringes', we will never know fully what grace has done for us. We only experience the depth and breadth of those actions of grace when he is at the center of our lives. If we want to see real and lasting change within our lives, it begins with the invitation to come to him. Then it continues on with us allowing him to be the center of our thoughts. As our thoughts begin to be affected by grace, all the rest of the stuff we find to be a part of the 'past life' will begin to drop away. Just sayin!
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