To catch one on camera with his tail feathers spread is not as common.
We have read many passages in the Old Testament regarding the priesthood and God’s people Israel. We may have felt a little envious of the relationship God desired to have with ancient Israel and the spiritual lessons for us may not have always been clear. However, in our reading today, Peter clearly states the truth about our identity and our standing with God as believers. “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Jesus is referred to as the “chief cornerstone”. “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame” (v. 6). He continues in verse 9: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (I Peter 2:9-10).
Dr. Stanley adds this, “Peter uses a flurry of wonderful
descriptions to portray the exalted position we enjoy as believers ‘in
Christ’. God calls us ‘chosen’ and
‘royal’ and ‘holy’ and ‘special’ so that we might begin to act like who we
really are”. We have been brought
together as believers—we “who once were not a people but are now the people of
God”! I doubt that many of us grasp who
we are in Christ to the degree we could. However, we can pray and ask God to open our eyes to our spiritual status
and meditate on and memorize the scriptures that clearly identify our identity
in Christ.
God says He has made us all the above for a purpose—“that
you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His
marvelous light” (v. 9). If we don’t
understand our identity, our testimonies will be weak and lacking. There will be little enthusiasm for God in
our speech and in our lives—we will not be “salted” (Mark 9:50). Peter goes on to say (under the inspiration of
the Holy Spirit—all scripture is inspired by God, 2 Timothy 3:16) we are to
live honorable lives, submitting ourselves to the ordinances of man—to kings
and governors—using our liberty in Christ in a manner that is above
reproach. Even if we suffer for doing
good Peter says to take it patiently as Christ did, and He is our example. He “did not revile in return”, He did not threaten,
but committed it to God, our righteous judge.
The writer of Psalm 134:1-3, admonishes those serving in the
house of the Lord to take advantage of their situation and “Lift up your hands
in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord”! How often we forget who we are in Christ. We can “clue in” to this on a daily
basis in our devotion time before we begin our day!
Proverbs 29:7, reminds us there is a difference in the way “the
righteous” think and the way “the wicked” think. “The righteous considers the cause of the
poor, but the wicked does not understand such knowledge”. (I was recently a passenger in a car when we
passed an elderly couple standing on the side of the road in the bitter
cold and wind, thumbing a ride. Had I been driving I would have stopped and
given them a ride (the only righteousness I have is Christ’s). However, the
driver seemingly did not see the need to rescue them from the cold and offer them a ride.) Note: the Hebrew word translated
“wicked” comes from a root word that can mean “to be wrong”.
There was a verse in Ezekiel today that I don’t think I had
ever heard or read before (one of the benefits of reading the Bible through
for yourself). In chapter 43, Ezekiel is
brought to the gate of the temple that faces east. “And behold, the glory of
the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound
of many waters (see Revelation 1:15); and the earth shone with His glory”. And in verse 4, “And the glory of the Lord
came into the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east. The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into
the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple”. Verse 7, “And He said to me, Son of man, this
is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will
dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever”(Compare with verse 9, and
with Revelation 21:3--I think Ezekiel may have set foot in the new Jerusalem!). Note: people are
usually buried (at least in the area where I live) facing east, indicating the
hope of the resurrection when Christ returns in the eastern sky (Matthew 24:27).
“And he who believes on Him will by
no means be put to shame” (I Peter 2:6).
“But as it is written, Eye has not
seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things
which God has prepared for them that love Him.
But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit” (I Corinthians 1:9, 10)!
(I highly recommend the book “Victory Over the
Darkness—Realize the Power of Your Identity in Christ” by Neil T. Anderson.)
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