1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
9) “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
2) “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.The Living Stone and a Chosen People4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[a] to be a holy priesthood,offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.” 7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and,“A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood,a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deedsand glorify God on the day he visits us.13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers,fear God, honor the emperor.18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example,that you should follow in his steps.22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sinsand live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
thedailylily.com 
Thank you Sara, for sharing “living words” with us today.
As I read these verses these were some of my take-aways:
Read these words written here. They are God’s meal for the day that can bring about change if we will “eat” them.
If we want to come out of our darkness, we must get rid of, throw out, stop entertaining those things that keep us filled with darkness and unable to absorb light.
Once we have emptied our buckets of slop, we will be hungry and crave some good healthy milk. So, we should read these words again and begin to practice them. That will help us realize who we are “… chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession,”
Don’t be an outlaw; submit to the governing authorities. Order in our lives will come from our being in order.
Embrace servitude as our duty. He does not live to serve us; we live to serve Him.
Do good, and then do good some more.
Stick close to the Shepherd, don’t get side-tracked and distracted and leave His heels. Follow where He leads.
If we are not endeavoring to think on and do what is written in these scriptures shared, then we have no basis for confident trust. Jesus lived His life solely for God’s purpose and that is why He could confidently say, “Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”
Looking at the photo: it’s a jungle out there. We sure need to be “into his wonderful light.”
Debi, you sure have some very interesting phrases in your comment. Let’s start with this one, “ our buckets of slop.” To be honest I had to look slop up in dictionary. I wonder if you are saying we have pig food and not pot roast for dinner?
I would like to hear a little more from your point of view, as a farm lover, how and what this bucket of slop is?
I heard the philosophy from a one room school house, “we are all teachers and learn from one another.”
I must say your comment is a bit complicated for me but I’m sure as a school teacher we will get this. Thanks for your lesson!
Sara you asked, “I wonder if you are saying we have pig food and not pot roast for dinner?”
Yes, that was what I was thinking when I read this scripture you wrote from I Peter 2:1: “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.”
I was thinking that if we are told we have to get rid of something that is in us, then we must have taken in a bucket of it to begin with… “malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind”. Filling our minds and hearts with these things is like eating rotten, stale and discarded things that are not healthy food for us.
Instead we are told “fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable. “ Phil 4:8
We are warned to not enjoy, take in or crave the sinful things above but instead to “crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good” per the scripture you wrote from I Peter 2: 2,3.
Debi, you surely have a very interesting concept. Now, from my perspective I understand your point but it seems to me that as a believer in Christ Jesus and his teachings on life living I’m not of the opinion we have deep seated malice (buckets of slope) and the list given in this scripture. I was thinking more along the lines when temped resist to act on or not store in heart waiting for a time to explode.
Interesting to think about a little more.
Thanks Sara, I can see your perspective and the Truth to it.. “when temped resist to act on or not store in heart waiting for a time to explode.”
I went back and read some in I Peter 1 and verses 21, 22 seem to also go with what you said, “Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.”
Thanks for clarifying. I think that verse “rid yourself” is really sobering and really got me searching…
In thinking on Light, enlightenment, truth, wisdom, knowledge among other “light” wonders given to man and finding these wonders become the Wonder of Wonders, “The wonder if it all” as the great Baritone George Bev Shea wrote and sang. One wonder he wrote, “just to think that God loves me. Then vs 2 “ There’s the wonder of springtime and harvest,The sky, the stars, the sun;
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
Is a wonder that has only begun.
Often we learn at the feet of others. Maybe ABC, but what would those letters be without words to hear and understand? What would they be without wisdom to live out the wonder of enlightenment? So often, we hold to a limited/delirium spiritual thought trying to obey or follow another’s truth interpretation and of course we probably all think that to be good. Yet, most likely there may just be more for believers in God’s Word according to these scriptures. I hope you at least read the last verse and maybe find a wonder of it all!
John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.“
John 1:9 “There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.”
Hebrews 6:4 “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
Ephesians 1:18 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,”
In times like these, COVID 19, America democracy in question, and more seemly out of control issues that may be making us feel or be in bondage we have a Savior, a deliverer that without a doubt has an answer.
“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.”
Titus 2:11, 13-14 NLT
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.”
Titus 2:11-14 NRSV
“Often we learn at the feet of others. Maybe ABC, but what would those letters be without words to hear and understand? What would they be without wisdom to live out the wonder of enlightenment?”
Reading the words and scriptures you shared above, Sara, certainly provides wisdom and helps bring understanding. The message of light, enlightenment and the truth and hope of salvation is woven and threaded throughout. It really reminds me of one of my favorite quotes in your book, “Throwing Your Light Forward”. That quote by Robert Louis Stevenson says, “Punch holes in your darkness”. That’s what I feel these words do. Thank you.
“2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.The Living Stone and a Chosen People..”
The words, “grow up in your salvation…” And, that comes after birthing and tasting just how good God is. As we grow in our salvation wonder how we look ie spiritually? I’v noticed an online fun (I guess) where you show your face and they show you maybe 30y ears forward. That might be fright. But what do you think you might look like after you have grown 30 years in your salvation?
Sara asks, “But what do you think you might look like after you have grown 30 years in your salvation?”
Since a tree is used as an illustration for growth and development in the Bible, I thought I should look at what it says regarding. Some of descriptions I found regarding a healthy, productive tree.
Psalm 1:3 “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither– whatever they do prospers.” NIV
Psalm 52:8 “But I am like an olive tree growing in God’s house, and I can count on his love forever and ever.” CEV
Ps 92:12-14 “The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green,” NAS
Prov 11:30 “The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life…” NLT
Jeremiah 17:8 “He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” ESV
This would be my goal of what I would like to look like.
Upon examining this tree, I hope to find digging down and looking at the roots, that they are “rooted and grounded in Christ”, The Rootstock. That the roots would be stretching out towards the Living Water (not girdled and wrapped in a self-contained ball at the base of the tree). This tree may appear gnarled since I am old and my life has taken quite a few twists and turns and set-backs. If one would cut the trunk there would probably be some dark rings from “fires” I have been through; some wide rings from years of growth; and some narrow rings from times of drought and struggle. I may even have a piece of fence wire embedded in me where I got tangled up. Hoping to see fruit and stay planted in “the house of the Lord”.
The footnotes for 1Peter 2:9 from (NLT) says: “ Christians sometimes speak of ‘ The priesthood of all believers.’ In the Old Testament times, people did not approach God directly. A priest acted as intermediary between God and sinful human beings. With Christ’s victory on the cross, that pattern changed. Now we can come directly into God‘s presence without fear (Hebrews 4:16), and we are given the responsibility of bringing others to him also (2 Corinthians 5: 18-21). When we are united with Christ as members of his body, we join in his priestly work of reconciling God and people.”
These footnotes would seem to either polish our wings to fly higher and further while touching the entire world for healing or leave one in shame of disbelief. “… we can come directly into God‘s presence without fear (Hebrews 4:16), and we are given the responsibility of bringing others to him also (2 Corinthians 5: 18-21). When we are united with Christ as members of his body, we join in his priestly work of reconciling God and people.”
Someone please help does this make you want to shout Hallelujah!
The part of the footnotesthat says: “ We can come directly into God‘s presence without fear“, May cause one to shout hallelujah? But, the second part of the footnotes: “ We are given the responsibility of bringing others to him also“, May Leave one in shame of disbelief, if there has been no sharing of the gospel of Jesus Christ to others? Am I wrong, in consideration of these footnotes? 🤔
You are so right Tammy we need to shout, cheer, make a joyful noise!
“if there has been no sharing of the gospel of Jesus Christ to others?” I’v been observing and thinking over the last few years how many have shared in word but not deed the gospel and fallen from positions in shame. We know faith and works are woven as one when it comes to faith in the gospel of Christ.
Just last night (when I read) a famous young pastor of Hillsong, very large church, fired. His wife a pastor also fired with him even though she was not part of his deed life. They have three children, He met another sitting on a park bench, a raving beauty! Exotic! They had ❤️To❤️ Talks. Her apt for months of sharing tequila and….
That is what I read well more detail but enough. Seems his church was blessed with the famous ones like Justin Bieber among other celebrities. And, it’s said he helped people overcome difficult times.
When we read the scripture and footnotes mentioned here we stand in awe of words like this, “we join in his priestly work…” His priestly work? Bottom line it seems we have our individual opinions of what we think the priesthood of Jesus as priest means. It’s not just this fallen man which hopefully will heal….but, our own arrogance and pride we enjoy while acting like we are in partnership
But, when we are not sharing the beauty of his priestly work but indulging our own flesh wonder what priesthood we have joined.
I’m not here to have big answers for the minister because he has a big church and others to deal with his situation. But, it’s exposed. The lovely lady is speaking out and my heart goes out to her because she is of another religion, not just denomination…now that her story is like a stadium banner will I take her into the throne room of God! Whoa? Will I? Such a sacred religious place we might think. Would she want to know this Priest after the partnership of relationship with a priest that loved her walked away. Well, ran away when caught. Sad, yet, we have an example when a lady was thrown before Jesus and it seems she was shown mercy, grace and the accusers walked away in shame? Angry? I’m not sure what those accusers thought. Not, sure what I think reading this modern day story.
Not sure how I deal with things when I just want to be apart and I just can’t share with the flock because they just won’t understand. Run off and do it my way. As the Book of Judges says, each one doing what they think right in their own eyes.
I will read the scripture and footnotes again…
Your insightful words, Sara, on Tammy’s footnotes from I Peter 2:9 regarding “The priesthood of all believers.’ paints a perspective of true reality I think.
You said, “I’v been observing and thinking over the last few years how many have shared in word but not deed the gospel and fallen from positions in shame. We know faith and works are woven as one when it comes to faith in the gospel of Christ.” That caused me to go back, read and reflect on one of your previous blogs, “Let Your Light Shine”. I thought the scripture and what you wrote below brought further understanding to deeds vs “shared in word”.
“..let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:15,16 “. “The main lesson I gleaned from this experiment was if a “little light” has no flame and sits among the dark and enjoys the joy of acceptance, showing off their tools rather than tools used to lite the house, the hillside remains dark. So what purpose is an unlit light in the dark of night?”
“Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.”—James 5:16 (NRSV)
Prayer is light and often a spot light…prayers are words, forms of communication, silent, verbal and may be expressed by all regardless of language, dialect or location. We might even add there are no border walls and truly all inclusive.
I understand we that find the Bible our guidelines for prayer are often divided in how we see and understand what we are praying. Lot of scriptures on prayer. Lot of forms of prayer even in small groups.
When I meditate on Light and place my focus on the light of the world not on the light in my room I’m in awe of the peoples of the World. Thinking on the words taken from the book of James, “The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.”—James 5:16 (NRSV) Now, we might need Tammy’s footnotes here but I don’t see where the non-righteousness (who ever they may be should not pray or may not receive an answer). Do you?
I do see if I consider myself among the righteous I should not sit by idle and not talk to God about a vaccine for COVID-19 and pray for President Elect Biden, President Trump and Leaders everywhere. Maybe the dimmer switch on our lights need to be turned on high power and sight may show a different attitude.
This is not meant to be a dogma-doctrine just communicating with others to confess wrong thinking if that be the case, giving light to pray effectively for one another, hoping that we may be healed.
Here are the footnotes for James 5:16-18 from (NLT). “ The Christian’s most powerful resource is communion with God through prayer. The results are often greater than we thought were possible. Some people see prayer as a last resort to be tried when all else fails. This approach is backward. Prayer should come first. Because God‘s power is infinitely greater than ours, it only makes sense to rely on it- especially because God encourages us to do so.” I’m not sure the footnotes answers your question, Sara? “ —James 5:16 (NRSV) Now, we might need Tammy’s footnotes here but I don’t see where the non-righteousness (who ever they may be should not pray or may not receive an answer). Do you?”
Let’s break notes down…1) the righteous according to notes are Christians (in our modern society that alone seems open to interpretation. Maybe always but we are thinking of the now. 2) we are praying for some mighty big things asking for vaccine for covid-19 and notes say results are often greater than we thought possible 3) we should think to pray first before we try to fix things
My understanding of footnotes. If I go by this scripture and these notes I find no answer to my question. To be honest this leaves me to pray to review how I pray for others and myself. Being very honest it seems to me the righteous, the Christians are undefinable.
I find this interesting…”The early Christian community drew people irresistibly because it offered a rich alternative. New followers were enveloped into a family of faith that offered care and support. Early Christianity grew because people prayed together, read the Word together, and looked after one another’s basic needs for food or shelter. Historians tell us that Christians nursed each other through the plagues of fatal illness that rampaged through the densely populated, unsanitary Roman cities, while other groups abandoned the ill to their death. In its origins, if not now, the Christian community offered relationship, care, and survival in harsh times.
—Dee Dee Risher, The Soulmaking Room
Hearing doctors say and echo “The pandemic [Covid-19]has become a humanitarian disaster in the United States.”Dr Gupta
“Soulmaking Room”
Tammy, Romans 3:10-11 now what?
“Now, we might need Tammy’s footnotes here but I don’t see where the non-righteousness (who ever they may be should not pray or may not receive an answer). Do you?”
Thinking more on this, I think the statements and scriptures below may relate.
Sara, you said/quoted, “I find this interesting…”The early Christian community drew people irresistibly because it offered a rich alternative. New followers were enveloped into a family of faith that offered care and support. Early Christianity grew because people prayed together, read the Word together, and looked after one another’s basic needs for food or shelter.”
As I thought on this…righteous people, like-mindedness and the discussion on prayer above, I went back to do some review from Sara’s book, “Throwing Your Light Forward”.
In the chapter, “Relationship” there were several scriptures regarding, but these 2 stood out: Acts 1:14 “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” NIV
Acts 4:24 “So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,” NKJ
Continuing in the chapter was the page titled, “Enemies of the church in one mind and one accord. Circuit of Agreement.” This is what it said, “The Kingdom of Light or the Kingdom of darkness can use agreement being in one accord and one mind. In Luke 16:8 Jesus said “…the children of the world are in their generation wiser than the children of light…” There are many instances in the Word of God how the children of light had discord and the results went to the children of darkness who were in agreement.”
Also, thinking on this scripture…“We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will.” John 9:31… This must mean that true repentance is a key to having our voices heard by God.
I read also in “Throwing Your Light Forward” that “Fellowship and communion is holy business”. We were told that, “Repentance involves more than being sorry for one’s sins. It involves confessing them, turning from them and doing them no more. If you have confessed your sins and continue to commit them you have not repented you have only displayed a little sorrow over your fault and you are not in true fellowship with the church, which is the body of Christ.”
This is a blog I really have been thinking about. In thinking on the word “light” in John 8: 1:21. Jesus stated, am the light of the world.” He said of the light in Matthew 5:15. Nor (do people light under a basket , but on a lampstand, and it shines on all those in the house I’ve always taught in JMatthew 7:16 By their fruit you will recognize them. There is shining through them showing others the Fruits of the Spiritwhen Jesus is in their hearts. Fruits of the Spirit 5:22-26 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
The stunts would sit in a circle would go around the circle and they would tell how they could show each of the fruits which are fruits. They were quick to share how they cared for people using these fruits.
We would then go into a darkroom with battery operated tea lights and I would say turn them on and We would sing “This little light of Mine”
This light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Jesus is the Light, I’m gonna let Him shine
Jesus is the Light, I’m gonna let Him shine
Jesus is the Light, I’m gonna let Him shine
Let Him shine, let Him shine, let Him shine
I will stomp my feet, and I will clap my hands and shout, shout
I will run around and I’ll jump off the ground and shout, shout
I will stomp my feet, and I will clap my hands and shout, shout
I will run around, I’ll jump off the ground and shout, shout
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
And I will stomp my feet, and I will clap my hands and shout, shout
I will run around and I’ll jump off the ground and shout, shout
Jesus is the Light
I’m gonna let Him shine
Jesus is the Light
I’m gonna let Him shine
Jesus is the Light
I’m gonna let Him shine
Let Him shine
Let Him shine
Let Him shine
Let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine
Let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine…
I tell them He the fruits of Jesus grow when their fruits grow as they closer to Jesus.. After finishing up “Waiting for Morning” by Karen Kingsbury. I thought of other gifts that she included in her book.. When you forgive one who harmed you or some one close to. Love a person by introducing them to Jesus Christ. Love a person by listening to their troubles. Listening to God for the next instruction as to help someone. Listen to God’s still small voice for people to pray for. Be steadfast in your prayers for one another and leaders.To love someone who does not feel loved by anyone. To touch someone with a flower, food they like, and a card and flowers and or cookies. Here I say a card because there is a lady in my church and she goes around and ask people for their address and then she would send those people a handwritten note every month. What a joy to receive a note of encouragement or concern .. Steadfastness in teaching about Jesus sharing what God has done for you. When God says go or tell be faithful to-carry out what deed He ask you to do. Parents have a lot of deeds to do- discipline, teaching about Jesus, teaching about life, role modeling the d the Fruits of the Spirit. Self -control- even if you want to say something listen to God. He may say wait not now, or those words are need to be said.
Rena, you sure give your children very in-depth fun learning. Maybe you could share this with them. A way of showing just how important they are in your eyes and God’s.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
This blog began with this scripture and as I followed along with all the comments from Sara, Tammy and Rena, it seems the dimensions of “his wonderful light.” continue to unfold.
Just as the spectrum of the sun’s light contains every color and a wide array of wavelengths, so has this study.
Sara threaded it throughout with her words from “enlightenment”, to “Prayer is light and often a spot light” onto “peoples of the World”.
And,Debi many more stories to be told and lights to follow. A star…
The Star of Bethlehem, or Christmas Star, appears in the nativity story of the Gospel of Matthew where wise men from the East” (Magi) are inspired by the star to travel to Jerusalem. There, they meet King Herod of Judea, and ask him:
“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship him “