God's Special Possession
We are told in Romans 2:11 that there is no partiality with God and so we know that He cannot possibly play favorites. However you also know that some Christians seem to be able to caucus with God while others appear to be outside the Divine fence, so to speak. He says of the inner caucus Christians,It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear (Isaiah 65:24, New King James Version).
Of the Christians on the outside, He says in Jeremiah 7:16, Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you. What are we to make of these apparent double standards in God, who is not given to partiality? Is He playing favorites? The answer is found in 1 Peter 2:9, (New International Version) But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
God has His special possession but these did not become His special possession by virtue of their birth or their wealth or education or even the eloquence of their prayers or preaching. It is all about God, like when you choose a garment from your closet as a special outfit. He chose us, gave us royal attributes such as righteousness (a king does not do unjustly), gave us His holiness, His Power to live above the fray of sin – to be kingly. He made us representatives of the others – a priesthood – to present others' requests to Him and be His ambassadors to them. As with your special outfit of which you take special care in order to preserve its luster, God also takes special care of His special possession.
However, He does require that that special possession presents itself dignified and does not let Him down on the red carpet of life when all the lights and cameras are on you. He takes all that special care of you so that you may declare His praises. Has somebody heard His praise from you today? No? Pity, you may be on the outside, yelling out prayers that go unanswered. Yes? Praise God, you are probably already caucusing with God, the same way that John did at the last supper in John 13:23, Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Does God love you? Does He love me? Can we caucus with Him the way John did? If you are not sure, you can begin to do what it takes to be in that inner caucus with God.
How will He choose you to be His special possession? Remember, He is not impressed with your family tree or your wealth or education. In Deuteronomy 26:17-19, we see what impresses God and what causes Him to choose to make a person His own special possession, Today you have proclaimed the Lord to be your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His judgments, and that you will obey His voice. Also today the Lord has proclaimed you to be His special people, just as He promised you, that you should keep all His commandments, and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the Lord your God, just as He has spoken.
And of course, when you caucus with the Almighty, He will set you high above all others, in praise, in name, in honor, so that you may be holy, as we see in verse 19. You know that once your special garment is stained, it cannot expect to be worm to the academy awards or any special event. It is discarded. So too, we must live pure and holy so that after being chosen as God's own special possession, we shall not be discarded.
This year, make up your mind not to be just one more Christian; strive to be special to God, to be God's own special possession. God will help each of us in our quest. Amen
Of the Christians on the outside, He says in Jeremiah 7:16, Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you. What are we to make of these apparent double standards in God, who is not given to partiality? Is He playing favorites? The answer is found in 1 Peter 2:9, (New International Version) But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
God has His special possession but these did not become His special possession by virtue of their birth or their wealth or education or even the eloquence of their prayers or preaching. It is all about God, like when you choose a garment from your closet as a special outfit. He chose us, gave us royal attributes such as righteousness (a king does not do unjustly), gave us His holiness, His Power to live above the fray of sin – to be kingly. He made us representatives of the others – a priesthood – to present others' requests to Him and be His ambassadors to them. As with your special outfit of which you take special care in order to preserve its luster, God also takes special care of His special possession.
However, He does require that that special possession presents itself dignified and does not let Him down on the red carpet of life when all the lights and cameras are on you. He takes all that special care of you so that you may declare His praises. Has somebody heard His praise from you today? No? Pity, you may be on the outside, yelling out prayers that go unanswered. Yes? Praise God, you are probably already caucusing with God, the same way that John did at the last supper in John 13:23, Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Does God love you? Does He love me? Can we caucus with Him the way John did? If you are not sure, you can begin to do what it takes to be in that inner caucus with God.
How will He choose you to be His special possession? Remember, He is not impressed with your family tree or your wealth or education. In Deuteronomy 26:17-19, we see what impresses God and what causes Him to choose to make a person His own special possession, Today you have proclaimed the Lord to be your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His judgments, and that you will obey His voice. Also today the Lord has proclaimed you to be His special people, just as He promised you, that you should keep all His commandments, and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the Lord your God, just as He has spoken.
- First, you have to belong to Him for Him to make you special among all who are His. Proclaim Him to be your God by becoming adopted into His family through your acceptance of Jesus as your Lord.
- Next, walk in all His ways, His Statutes, His Commandments and His judgments and obey His voice.
And of course, when you caucus with the Almighty, He will set you high above all others, in praise, in name, in honor, so that you may be holy, as we see in verse 19. You know that once your special garment is stained, it cannot expect to be worm to the academy awards or any special event. It is discarded. So too, we must live pure and holy so that after being chosen as God's own special possession, we shall not be discarded.
This year, make up your mind not to be just one more Christian; strive to be special to God, to be God's own special possession. God will help each of us in our quest. Amen
