based on the LGG Study, From the Beginning to Forever/w6d3
Read: Phil 4:4-9; Galatians 5:16-26; and soap: 1 Peter 2:9-10
In light of all we’ve seen from the beginning of creation … in response to God’s work on our behalf through Jesus Christ … and now, in response to the great commission … how then should we live?
Today’s journey offers us several passages to answer this all-important question. Paul encourages us to live joyful and gentle lives, not only because we find our joy and hope in God, but because we know that the Lord’s return is near. He also teaches us to rest in God and His truths instead of allowing anxiety to control us. He wrote to his readers that they should live by the power of the Spirit rather than walking by the desires of the flesh, and he stressed the importance, throughout most of his letters, that we should get rid of not only sexual immorality but also of anger, envy, bitterness, harsh words, and all types of evil behavior. He urged believers to love others more than themselves.
The main focus of today’s journey is Peter’s description of God’s chosen people. The description can be both exciting and confusing, because, as Bibleref.com points out, “the language Peter uses has been used to describe God’s special relationship with Israel.” (Exodus 19:6) However, as the commentary goes on to explain, “As Israel was, we~believers, the church — are also a chosen race…though not in the sense of our family, ethnicity, skin color, or country of origin.” Instead, “We are a spiritual race, in the sense that, in Christ, we share a single spiritual Father. In that same meaning, we are a ‘holy nation,’ a specific group of people called out and set apart from all other nations.” Friends, I don’t know about you, but that gets me all kinds of excited, thankful, and proud to be called a child of God!
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of His own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. You once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10
I think my favorite description of all is this one phrase: “a people of His own.” He formed us as this nation, race, and priesthood, as bibleref.com goes on to say, “to take possession of us. We are His people in a very real way. It’s not just that we pledge our allegiance to Him; it’s that He has taken ownership of us. We belong to Him.” Friends, no matter how wonderful your earthly family is, there is no greater gift than that of belonging to the family of God. Called out of the darkness and into the “marvelous light,” as Peter wrote, we can and must live as the Holy people God has made us to be, for the purpose of reflecting Him in all we do and say.
In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we find a beautiful and helpful picture/example of exactly what it should look like for us to reflect Him well. The picture includes the church working together with one mind and purpose, having the same attitude of Christ … and following the instructions found in God’s Word. When we live like this, our lives become evidence to the watching world of how God has saved us by His grace through faith.
Have the Attitude of Christ
2 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.Shine Brightly for Christ
12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. 17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God,[e] just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. 18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.
Philippians 2:1-18
Praise God! The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who has rescued us from the darkness into glorious light! You won’t want to miss this song of praise and thanksgiving – you’ll be singing it the rest of the day…
Me From the Inside Out 