Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room
March 21, 2022
Read 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, Speak of the wonderful acts of Jesus!
We are chosen by God! Praise be to God. This passage reminds us that whoever we have been perceived to be by humans is unimportant to God. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, he showed us that beginning with the lowliest all of us are important in the sight of God. By earthly standards, we all have deficiencies, but we are all precious and valued in the kingdom of God.
Sometimes, we feel that surely we have too many flaws or have committed too many sins to be acceptable to join the community of faith. Some struggle with mental afflictions that cause them to question their own worth. Others have physical problems that make them believe that they no longer have value.
Regardless of our earthly challenges, when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit begins to work within us transforming our spiritual being. Our acceptance of Christ is merely the beginning of our new life: our life in Christ. Acceptance requires action. First, we accept, next we allow for transformation, and then we are moved to respond. Being a Christian is not simply sitting on a pew in church every Sunday. Going to church is a great place to receive spiritual nourishment, but just as we eat physical food so that our bodies can work, our spiritual nourishment provides the fuel that we need to serve God.
God has a plan for each child, and God looks at us from the inside out. Where there is love, God is found also. Love is the source of our power and will prevail as we are sculpted to represent God’s glory. We must focus on developing our relationship with God from the inside out. When we are one with God, our hearts will be filled and we will find ourselves wanting to share God. May the light of Jesus, who saves us, shine through you to light the path for others to follow.
Loving and Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. Help to let go of the earthly standards to which we hold ourselves. May we spend our time growing in Your love. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Today I will see myself as God sees me — worthy, holy, and anointed.
Shine for Jesus! Pastor Liz
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