First String

“You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called out of darkness into His wonderful light." I Peter 2:9

Growing up, I dreaded the days we divided into teams during PE. Quite gangly and not quite graceful, I was rarely chosen first. I was usually part of “the rest of ya’ll.” You remember the teacher’s snappy instructions. “Keith, Paul, Karen, you’re on one team. Brad, Suzy, Mike, you’re on the other. The rest of ya’ll divide up between the two teams. Let’s go! You’re wasting your playing time!”

“The rest of ya’ll.” Those who don’t stand out enough to be singled out. The ones who aren’t good enough to go first. Warm bodies but not winners. Only somewhat competent and even less confident, we need somebody to build us up or bail us out.

Jesus did both. For all of us. None of us are good enough to make His team on our own. By the cross He got us to where we are, and through Peter, He tells us who we are. “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God…” You are chosen. You’re important. You are special. You belong. Not because you’re good but because He’s grace.

And because He has good things for you to do. God has no second-string. Don’t be a benchwarmer, missing out on the action and the opportunities to “declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”

Suit up and step in. Play well and praise well. Because of His victory, we really are the champions!
Batter up!

Time For A Little R&R

REFLECT
Think about this: You are chosen by God. You’re important to God.
You are special to God. You belong to God.

RESPOND
Today, by what you do and what you say, declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.