"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure."
"Chosen... to obey" - I have been musing upon this one for a couple of days now. My salvation is for the purpose of obedience. Makes you stop and think, doesn't it? If we claim to call Jesus our Lord and Master, then doesn't it follow that we have committed our lives to obeying Him?
Slaves of Christ.. that phrase has become meaningless to us it seems. Yes, we understand, it means to give our lives in service to Him. But can we say that our lives are defined by this NOW?? I certainly cannot.
If we believe that God "works all things in accordance with His will" and that "all things work for the good of those who love Him" - then in any situation we should be able to respond with thankful and joyful hearts, knowing that He has determined our steps and that they are for our good!
Yet this is so often not the way that I live. This passage calls us back to truth: "we are His workmanship, created in Christ.. to do GOOD WORKS, which God prepared beforehand, that we should WALK IN THEM" Eph 2:10. Christ has hung upon the cross so that I would serve Him. He gave His life, made a way for me to be an inheritor of His kingdom by His blood, so that I will live as He commands, for my good and His glory. WOW.
"sprinkled with His blood" - As Moses descended down the Mt of Sinai, He brought the words of God to the people. They responded with words of obedience "All that you have said, we will do" Ex 24:3-8. To symbolize the covenant between the people and God, Moses splattered the altar (sym: God) with blood, and turned and threw the rest of the blood on the people. Their promise to obey was sealed in blood.
Christ has kept His part of the blood covenant, will you?
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