Friday 26 August 2016

A Royal Priesthood

A Royal Priesthood
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
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. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12.
Here is something I think Christians need to meditate on. According to the Apostle Peter we are a “Royal Priesthood”.
That we are “to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.”
That we should,   “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
Question. If you are a Christian is this the kind of life you are living?
 Are you abstaining from sinful desires?
Sinful desires come in all forms not just the obvious. Sinful desires are anything that is not pleasing to God. God tells us to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors. Do you?
Do you judge those you disagree with?
Jesus said,
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Are you following these commands?
The writer of Hebrews tells us,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
Are you doing this? If not are you not sinning? For sinning is falling short of God’s ideals for your life. Falling short of what God wants you to do.
Take a few moments to look at your life and see if you are truly following the word of God. Read the New Testament for yourself and ask God to show you where you fall short of following the life God wants you to live.
Please think about it.

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