As we continue to look at what it means to be in community, the Apostle Peter reminds us that ALL of us are a chosen people,  ALL of us are a royal priesthood, ALL of us belong to God, and ALL of us have the job of declaring the praises of God.  Here's how he put it: “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.” 2 Peter 2:9

How often do you think of THAT as your job?  Have you ever thought of yourself as "chosen," as a "priest," as "belonging to God" and as having the daily task (and opportunity!) of declaring the praise of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light?  Too often we think of life as mundane.  We think of ourselves as having jobs that pay the bills.  We think of our faith and our practice of following Jesus as something we do on the weekends, or during our "quiet times."  That isn't the half of it!  Not a tenth of it!  If we took our jobs seriously, our calling from God seriously, we would recognize how vital our role is in the overall process of extending God's glory around the world.

Does that sound overdone, overstated?  Read the text.  I didn't add anything to it.  We have a far bigger job than most of us realize or dare to live into on a daily basis.  The reason American Christianity is often so weak is we have forgotten the value God places in us, and the essential nature of our calling.  As Pastor Brad reminded us on Sunday, priest have direct access to God, they represent God to people and they have dedicated themselves to serving God.  Stop right now and ask yourself, "When was the last time I availed myself of the direct access to God, which He has granted me?"  When was the last time I represented God to a single, other person?  How dedicated am I to serving God?   Don't gloss over this.  Take some time and do it.  It'll mess up your morning, or day---and it ought to!  Let's live today as everything God created us to be and do.  As we do, at the end of this day we'll have made an eternal difference, and that's exactly why we're here.

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, THANK YOU for giving us such an amazing calling!  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may live today as the chosen people we are, as the royal priesthood, the holy nation, a people belonging to God who are constantly proclaiming the praise of You who brought us out of darkness into Your marvelous light!  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.