Friday, May 20 – 1 Peter 2:9-10

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

When someone is working for a greater purpose, no matter the job, the way they work is changed and influenced by their greater motivation. Maybe you have seen this with a student working nights so that they could pay for school or a child working hard in a lemonade stand so they could earn money for themselves for the first time. The words of Peter in this passage remind us of the greater purpose we have as followers of Jesus. It is easy to get caught in the status quo, completing our jobs for temporary reasons but in Christ, our calling is deeper and compels us to use even the smallest of tasks for His glory. This greater hope and high calling changes how we view our jobs, our relationships, and our homes. We are people of redemption, set apart for a great purpose.

This greater calling is an echo of the purpose God has had for His people all along. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 says, ““Hear, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. And you shall repeat them diligently to your sons and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. You shall also tie them as a sign to your hand, and they shall be as frontlets on your forehead. You shall also write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” God gave the Israelites practical ways to remember their calling. When we are in God’s Word and connected with Him in prayer, our purpose is at the forefront of our minds in all that we do.

• How are you motivated by your greater calling as a follower of Jesus?
• What are some practical ways you can be reminded of the purpose you have as a follower of Jesus?
• Pray and thank God for the purpose He gives us as we follow Him.