Affirmation of God: I proclaim the praises of Him who called me out of the darkness.

Peter says we are a chosen people who should praise Him who called us out of the darkness into a wonderful light. Wonderful and marvelous is this light of God. Today’s affirmation was taken from 1 Peter 2:9: “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.” (NIV) 

I am so thankful for God calling me out of the darkness! Now I wish the darkness did not exist, but it does. We have been brought into His wonderful and His marvelous light! Unfortunately, I do not always reflect His light but sometimes the darkness of my sinful nature. 

Do you ever feel you fail to act like a chosen person? Are there times we do not reflect our priesthood on the people and world around us? I believe Peter is reminding us here in 1 Peter 2 that we have been called into this light and we should act like it. 

As a parent, the choices of our children some times cause us pain. We so want them to make the best choices and to reflect God’s light.  If our children choose a “dark” activity or dress and act in certain ways does that reflect  on us as parents some how? 

Sometimes it is just a wake up call that maybe we haven’t been taking care of things at home as we should. Maybe we don’t show the light in our own back yard. Do we show the same love Christ shows us? We do, at times don’t we? Sometimes we turn away from the light and dip back into the darkness. Thank God He is there for us as we turn back and look to the light. But thank God the light isn’t “out there” somewhere. He says He brought us INTO the light. To live IN it and not just look at it.  Peter is showing us here we are living breathing beings that must be constantly mindful of our light.

In 1 Peter 2:5 Peter refers to us as “living stones”. Strange huh? Do you usually perceive stone or rock as “living”? We have all heard the scripture where Jesus was referred to the chief cornerstone in verse 6 of 1 Peter. We know Jesus is the main cornerstone of which the church will be built.  But we also are living stones to build up this spiritual house. We are living because we do have a dynamic and moving spiritual, emotional and physical life. 

Peter reminds us and encourages us in verse 11: Dear friends, since you are foreigners and temporary residents [in the world], I’m encouraging you to keep away from the desires of your corrupt nature. These desires constantly attack you. (GWT)  or “Dearly beloved, I beseech [you] as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;” (KJV) 

Peter is being real with us here. We have been called into the light but there is a darkness to our sinful nature that draws us back. May we be ever diligent and attached to the chief cornerstone. The spiritual house of God is built with us. We have a responsibility to be careful of those lusts of the flesh that war against our souls. But we are “living” stones. 

In verses 12-18 we are told to be aware of how we act in the world. The world is watching and we should reflect evidence of the light instead of darkness. We notice that in our children at times. Where lack of respect for authority or evidence of their activities point to ungodly results. People they hang with do not seem to reflect the light. Can we see it in ourselves? Are we rebellious and stubborn? Do we show disrespect to others and the law? Do we show proper respect to the authority of our government and our laws? Do we reflect the light? 

Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. (NIV)  

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. (NIV) 

For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (NIV) 

Ok, so sometimes we have been led astray but because Jesus died for us and he oversees our souls we can turn to Him and live in His mercy and light. May our evidence reflect the light of God. Have you ever realized how important your stone is in the building of the spiritual house of God? Our stone matters to God. May we help build the house where it is a safe place for the world to come and worship God and offer their spiritual sacrifices.  Can those closest to us see the light of God in us? I praise Him who called me out of the darkness and ask Him to keep my eyes on Him and use me to reflect His light. 

Tom Raines

Christian Affirmations 4 Life