“You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” – 1 Peter 2:5

This isn’t how most of us think of ourselves. However, it’s absolutely what God thinks about you if Jesus is your Lord. These things are true about you, whether you realize it or not. So, what does it mean for your life???

First of all, it means that God has a purpose and plan for your life. You don’t exist primarily for your entertainment and enjoyment. You aren’t alive just to bump along, getting by until you die. Far from it! God has saved you from your sins and raised you to eternal life so that you can glorify Him throughout your life. You have been cleansed from your sins and set apart from the rest of humanity to be a priest of God. That’s what it is to be holy and YOU ARE HOLY!

Your new life in Christ is intended to be an ongoing spiritual sacrifice of holiness, ministry to others, service to God, and worship. Romans 12:1 emphasizes that your spiritual sacrifice is to devote your love, life, energy, and treasure to serving and obeying Jesus. You’re now part of God’s new temple. You’re a single stone meant to work closely with other believers, not sit on the ground by yourself. Going it alone isn’t an option for followers of Jesus. You were made new to fit into the body of Christ, a local church in which you worship, live life, and love God and others. It’s only as you live, love, and work closely with other believers that you experience the fullest joy and purpose for your new life and bring God the most glory by it.

You were made holy by God’s grace through faith in Jesus. Now, you’re called to live in a holy manner that suits who you already are. You are to be praying, worshiping, and blessing God and others by your manner of life each and every day. You aren’t a random nobody – you are God’s priest and representative in your community, your workplace or classroom, and in all the other places you go. God is calling others to salvation through you. So, be bold and live out God’s glorious purpose for your life. Don’t be afraid – just #FollowJesus

“Who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” – 1 Peter 1:5

Do you realize that God Himself is protecting your salvation in Christ? When you first put your faith in Jesus, your sins were forgiven, and you were adopted as God’s children, that gracious salvation came under God’s protection. He guards it against all enemies until that glorious day when Jesus returns and your faith becomes your sight. Your continued relationship with the Lord isn’t something that you must protect on your own. Oh no, God is protecting you spiritually with His infinite power, total knowledge, and perfect wisdom.

You eternal inheritance in Heaven is assured. Your invitation to the feast of Jesus is assured. The final outcome of your judgment before the white throne of the Lord is assured. You have indeed been born again to a strong, certain hope that is also a living hope – the ruling, reigning, and risen Jesus Christ, the Son of God and sustainer of all things.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take your spiritual life seriously. Shortly after this verse, Peter emphasizes the importance of living a holy life. But pursue personal holiness for the right reasons. You don’t need to do that out of fear that you’ll lose God’s grace and love. What you didn’t earn in the first place, you cannot un-earn! God’s love and power will endure through every trial of your life and even every failure. The devil will certainly attack you, but the Lord will guard you and His power is unimaginably greater than the devil’s. Pursue holiness out of gratitude, love, and a desire to become more like Jesus. Not out of guilt and fear. Love the Lord with all your heart, for He surely loves and guards you every moment of every day. #FollowJesus

“They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.”
– Isaiah 11:9

What a glorious day it will be when Jesus returns and completes His Kingdom! The stain of sin and its curse upon Creation will be removed forever. Peace will reign, not only between people but even between animals that currently prey on one another. Everything will once again be as God made to be in Eden. There will be perfect joy and harmony among all living things. It will be glorious and it IS coming!

Don’t let the current state of the world discourage you – better days are coming! Most precious of all is the promise that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. All nations, tribes, and ethnic groups will love and praise Jesus as Lord. They will walk in the freedom of salvation through faith in Jesus. They will worship side-by-side in joy and love. What a promise! May it encourage you on the difficult days between now and then!

What should we do until then? Worship the Lord, of course. Pray, of course. Make disciples of all nations, of course. We aren’t supposed to be passive observers waiting for the return of Jesus. We’re commanded to be active participants in His plan to return! Sharing the Gospel near and far is our part in making this future a reality. We must be praying, mobilizing, sending, and going into God’s harvest fields to introduce people to Jesus and teach those who believe in Him how to follow Him. This not only brings eternal life to people, the Apostle Peter says it hastens the day of the Lord’s coming! As we are faithful to fulfill Christ’s Commandment and Commission, we accelerate His return and the coming of this glorious day of peace, joy, harmony, and love. Meditate on the glorious future in Christ, and then, it’s time for work! #FollowJesus

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” – James 4:17

This is a weighty word, indeed! Have you ever had times when you just KNEW what you were supposed to do but didn’t do it? Many, perhaps most, people have. And that’s sin! To look the other way when you know you’re supposed to get involved – for you, that’s sin. To keep silent when you’re supposed to speak up – for you, that’s sin. To be more afraid of how people will react to your words or actions than you are afraid of God’s judgment for your inaction – for you, that’s sin.

Spend some time reflecting on this. When and how have you sinned by failing to do the right thing? Ask God to show you where you have failed to live up to what He’s called you to be and do in this fallen world as His ambassador. Don’t avoid His conviction. Then confess any sins to God and receive His gracious forgiveness.

Now, consider whether there are things you’re currently sinning about by failing to say or do the right thing? Confess that AND ask for courage to do the right thing, no matter the earthly consequences to yourself, your career, your status, your freedom, your wealth, or your popularity. Don’t avoid doing the right thing just because you want to stay safe, comfortable, or anonymous. Take up your cross and #FollowJesus

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” – James 1:26

This is a sobering word from the Lord that every follower of Jesus should reflect on VERY carefully. If you think you’re a very faithful Christian but what flows out of your mouth, pen, keyboard, or phone is vile, vicious, cruel, shameful, hurtful, or otherwise out of control at times, you have a spiritual problem! Not a behavioral problem, a spiritual problem. James warns that you may not be nearly so close to Jesus as you imagine!

It’s not that our words can save us (or cause us to lose our salvation). It’s that our words reflect our true spiritual situation. Have we actually been born again as a new creation in Christ? A follower of Jesus must carefully, prayerfully control what he or she says. Out loud. In email. By text. Over social media. Jesus was very clear that what flows out of your mouth, pen, keyboard, and phone reflects the actual condition of your heart. As a follower of Jesus, take this warning seriously. If the Holy Spirit is speaking to you right now, don’t ignore Him. And certainly DO NOT try to excuse yourself by claiming that’s just how you are!

Consider what you say (in all the ways you can say things) when you’re angry, lonely, upset, disappointed, embarrassed, frustrated, or exhausted. Does it glorify God or does it tear people made in His image to bits? Does it glorify God or glorify yourself? Does it breathe life into people or reek of death? Commit to control your tongue in the power of the Holy Spirit and #FollowJesus