God's Special Possession!!!

Good Morning!

Some random thoughts for this Good Morning …

The tragedy in Japan reminds us of how infinitely small our power is to control Earth. I know that each of you has prayed and is praying for the people of Japan and other places impacted by the earthquake and resulting tsunami.

Our weekend weather in Georgia was tremendously beautiful. I was able to play nine Saturday with my favorite threesome – me, myself, and I. But in the course of my journey I was blessed … and I mean blessed … to encounter by buddy Mike; Joe Anzalone; and to meet a new friend who is suffering from lung cancer. I even got invited to play with some of these guys on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

Our Bible study Sunday was fantastic. Our lesson covered 1 Peter 1:13-2:1. I went a little farther in the study and found this great passage:

1 Peter 2:4-10 (New International Version, ©2011)
The Living Stone and a Chosen People
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”[b]
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”[c]
8 and,
“A stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.”[d]
They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Footnotes:
a. 1 Peter 2:5 Or into a temple of the Spirit
b. 1 Peter 2:6 Isaiah 28:16
c. 1 Peter 2:7 Psalm 118:22
d. 1 Peter 2:8 Isaiah 8:14

Our foundation in life is Jesus Christ. Upon Him, we build the spiritual life that sets us apart for God’s service. We are a special people … both in the sense of being a special possession of His and also in declaring the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light. If you ever felt like you were worth nothing, read this beautiful verse … memorize it … carry it with you in your life journey. You are God’s special possession!!! What a great thought to begin a new week.

Agape’


Mr. Jim