Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
January 14, 2025
1 Peter 2:4-10
4 Now you are coming to him as to a living stone. Even though this stone was rejected by humans, from God’s perspective it is chosen, valuable. 5 You yourselves are being built like living stones into a spiritual temple. You are being made into a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Thus it is written in scripture, Look! I am laying a cornerstone in Zion, chosen, valuable. The person who believes in him will never be shamed. 7 So God honors you who believe. For those who refuse to believe, though, the stone the builders tossed aside has become the capstone. 8 This is a stone that makes people stumble and a rock that makes them fall. Because they refuse to believe in the word, they stumble. Indeed, this is the end to which they were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who are God’s own possession. You have become this people so that you may speak of the wonderful acts of the one who called you out of darkness into his amazing light. 10 Once you weren’t a people, but now you are God’s people. Once you hadn’t received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Good Morning. God views us through the lens of love!
Through God’s grace, we are chosen. We, the beloved children of God, are made worthy by Jesus, who gave himself to us. Still, we have a choice to make. Those who believe will be acceptable in God’s sight.
If you refuse to believe, you will be cast aside. When believers stumble, God is with us to steady our feet. When a non-believer stumbles, they will surely fall without God’s help.
Why do some choose to be non-believers? They are swayed by the earthly treasures that glisten and sparkle in the darkness. They believe that they can achieve everything on their own. They assume they'll reach their goals if they work hard enough and set their mind to success.
The reality is that reaching earthly goals is an end unto itself. You reach the top, and then you die without everything you accrued along the way. When believers leave this earthly life, they transition to their eternal life. Yes, we don’t get to take our earthly possessions, but God provides all we will ever need for eternity.
The Good News is that God is merciful and awaits our decision to turn around and accept Jesus. As long as we have breath, we have the opportunity to join with God. However, we do not know when our time will come, so take advantage of God’s gift today, before you end up on the outside looking in.
Loving Lord, Maker of all things! You give us choices. Help us to see the light so that we find the path that leads to eternal life. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God sees what is good within each of his children.
Choose life and blessings! Pastor Liz
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