DRAWING NEAR
July 1
Enjoying Spiritual Privileges
"Coming to Him as to a living stone...you also, as living stones,
are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood....
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
people for God's own possession...you are the people of
God...you have received mercy" (1 Peter 2:4-10).
You have enormous privileges in Christ.
A university student once confessed to a pastor, "I've come to the
conclusion that I don't believe in God." "I see," the pastor replied.
"Please tell me about the God you don't believe in." The student
proceeded to describe a vengeful, unfair, arbitrary, cosmic ogre who
delighted in watching earthlings stumble through life in search of
meaning and direction. After listening to that portrayal of God, the
pastor wisely replied, "I don't believe in that God either."
Like that student, most people have a warped view of God because they
can't see beyond their circumstances and the conditions that plague
our fallen world. Their distorted world view keeps them from
understanding God's goodness and mercy. But we as believers
understand because we see beyond the physical realm and experience
His grace and kindness in many ways.
Scripture speaks pointedly about the duties and responsibilities of
Christians, but all of that is balanced by the rights and benefits we
have in Christ. In writing to Christians who were experiencing severe
persecution, the Apostle Peter reminded them of their privileges and
called them to praise God for His abundant grace (1 Peter 2:9). That
is your calling as well.
This month we will consider many of those privileges, including your
union with Christ, access to God, the priestly role, spiritual
security, election, dominion, and inheritance. The implications of
them are all staggering and should be a source of great joy and
thanksgiving as you study them from God's Word.
Suggestions for prayer:
Thank God for the privilege of being His child.
Pray that He will strengthen and encourage you with the truths you
learn from these studies.
Regardless of your circumstances, learn to focus on God's glory and
grace, allowing them continually to fill your heart with praise and
worship.
For further study:
Read 1 Peter 1:3-9 and 2:4-10. Make a list of the spiritual
privileges Peter mentions.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
1 Peter 1:3-9
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living
hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not
fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready
to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if
need
be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than
gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to
praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet
believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith; the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 2:4-10
4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but
chosen by God and precious,
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house,
a
holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God
through Jesus Christ.
6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in
Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him
will by no means be put to shame."
7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who
are
disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the
chief cornerstone,"
8 and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble,
being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation,
His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who
called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had
not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus Is?
http://www.gty.org/Gospel
http://www.gty.org/
http://www.nwbible.org/
To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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