Daily Bread

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

God's Special Possession

Date: Jan. 2, 2021

Passage

1 Peter 2:4-10

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:

  “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
    a cornerstone chosen and precious,
  and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”

8 and

“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Key Verse: 1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1. The living Stone (4-8)

Jesus is the living Stone. He is also the rejected stone, who was crucified for those who rejected him. He is able to give life to us, to make us living stones when we trust in him and believe in him. The rejected stone is the cornerstone of God's kingdom, and he makes those who obey him to be holy and acceptable to God, while those who refuse him stumble and fall.

2. A royal priesthood (9-10)

God had a purpose in sending Jesus to us. He wanted to make a new creation. He makes all who trust in Jesus to be his own. He calls us out of the darkness of sin to serve him as his chosen people and a royal priesthood. In his eternal mercy, God raised up a people who would declare his praises in all they do. The people of God in our times are all those who declare the wonders of the gospel of Jesus to the world.

Prayer: Lord, I belong to you by the gospel of Jesus. Thank you for your mercy. Use me to declare the wonderful light of the gospel to all people.

One Word: A royal priesthood, a holy nation

Remember Who God is

Psalm 77:1-20

Key Verse: 77:11

I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.

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