God's Chosen People

God’s Chosen People

“But you are God’s chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things that he has done.” 1 Peter 2:9

Darren Sproles shouldn’t be playing NFL football. The average height of an NFL quarterback is just over 6”2”. Running backs average height is 5”11” and weighing in at about 215 pounds. Not only does Sproles play in the NFL, he broke the record for most single-season all-purpose yardage in 2011, with 2,629 yards. Playing for the San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints and the Philadelphia Eagles, he is the first player in NFL history with 2,200+ all-purpose yards in four different seasons.

Devoted to Excellence

“He who tills his land will have plenty of food, but he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.” Proverbs 28:19

There is no doubt that we can name plenty of hard working people who have lost their fortune. I have a dear friend, one of the hardest working people you might ever meet, who is now near bankruptcy due to a combination of physical challenges, properties what were flooded and dishonest business partners. Hearing stories like that we are tempted to say, “See, this proverb, along with the rest of Scripture, is unreliable.”

Recognition

“Now remember what you were, my friends, when God called you. From the human point of view few of you were wise or powerful or of high social standing.” 1 Corinthians 1:26

I believe we all long for recognition. I love watching children after they have created something special. Maybe it is a cutout of Jonah and the Whale provided by the Sunday School curriculum. Or perhaps they have finished a masterpiece with crayons and markers on paper. They proudly point to each person or item. Maybe they created a small bowl of clay and now Mom and Dad are expected to use it for paper clips or rubber bands. Well, it doesn’t really matter what it is used for, as long as it is used and appointed a place of honor in the front room.

No More "I Can't"

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:3

Two of the most deadly words in the English language are “I can’t.” We limit our options, we subtract possible joy and, saddest of all, we do not make room for God and His gifts. That is not to say that we can, in some fairy tale way, have three (or more) wishes and obtain anything we want. I cannot, for instance, suddenly be fit and muscular if I have been sedentary and listless until that point. But, what I am able to do is begin a pathway toward that goal.