Eastertide
May 4, 2023
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:2-10
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
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. –1 Peter 2:9-10
I fear that too many read the first part of this scripture and not the rest. Some take that phrase But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, meaning that Christ’s followers are better than everyone else. They do not take in the full meaning that Christ’s followers are called to a special service to bring light into a dark world. My experience is that the best way to turn people away from God is to flaunt one’s self-perceived superiority. Good created all people and called them good. I have a sense that for the Kingdom of God, God’s Beloved Community, to become a reality, the special contributions that each person has been blessed with must be actualized. We are called to enable that.
Prayer:
Out in the highways and byways of life,
Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.
Tell the sweet story of Christ and his love,
Tell of his pow’r to forgive;
Others will trust him if only you prove
True, ev’ry moment you live.
Give as ’twas given to you in your need,
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed,
Unto your mission be true*.
Prayer:
Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing.
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray.
Make me a blessing to someone today**. Amen.
Verses of the hymn Make Me a Blessing by Ira B. Wilson see at https://hymnary.org/text/out_in_the_highways_and_byways_of_life
**Refrain from the hymn Make Me a Blessing see the above citation for more information.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.