Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

5 February 2024

Reading From Exodus 19-21

“Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, ‘This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, youwill be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.’”

–Exodus 19:3-6

     God chose the nation of Israel to be a light to the world; a shining example of the blessings that come from following Yahweh. The Land of Canaan is uniquely positioned geographically as a corridor of transportation and trade in the heart of the Fertile Crescent connecting Egypt and Mesopotamia.  Throughout Scripture in the Old Testament we see examples of people from other lands interacting with the nation of Israel[1] and God placed in His Law guidelines for hospitality to be shown toward travelers and migrants.[2]  In the Old Testament, people come from all around to Zion,[3] but in the New Testament, the children of God are sent out from Jerusalem to all the world spreading the love of message of Jesus.[4]  Each follower of Jesus is given the Great Commandment to love and the Great Commission to share. You see, it is through Jesus and His Body, the Church, that the promise of the Father to Abraham to bless the nations is being fulfilled.

     Every person who places their faith and trust in Jesus, confesses that He is Lord, calls upon on His Name and turns away from their sin, is a born again child of God.  Our God is the King of Kings[5] and Great High Priest,[6] making His children kings and queens, priests and priestesses.[7]  This means that we have His authority and power to minister in His Name to others.[8]  To be a nation of kings and priests, queens and priestesses is not only our identity, but also forms our community and our destiny now and in the future after the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  We cannot even begin to fathom how valuable we are to God.  Compared to Him we are nothing, but in Him we have everything.  In Him we live and move and have our being.  He has so richly blessed us, His eternal family, and it is His will that we share those blessings, both spiritual and temporal, with others. When people discover who they are, they begin to act the part. You are a kings and queens, priests and priestesses under the King of Kings and the Great High Priest. Act like it.

“Lord God, thank You for adopting me into Your eternal family.  You have taken me from the miry clay, washed me clean, clothed me in pure robes, placed Your ring on my finger, anointed my head with oil, and set my feet upon the firm foundation of Christ and His Word.  I pray that Your blessings will flow through me and into the lives of those around me.  Raise up Your children and guide them into all truth.  May they discover their true identity, community and destiny in You.  Amen.”

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…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. 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.

–I Peter 2:4-5, 9-10

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[1] I Kings 10, Genesis 14, Ruth 1, Joshua 2

[2] Leviticus 19:33-34, Genesis 23:4, Deuteronomy 10:19, 27:19

[3] Genesis 12:1-3, Habakkuk 2:14

[4] Matthew 5:14, 28:16-20, Acts 1:8

[5] I Timothy 6:15, Revelation 19:16, Deuteronomy 10:17

[6] Hebrews 1:5, 4:14-16, 7:24

[7] I Peter 2:5, 2:9, Isaiah 61:6, Revelation 1:6, 5:10, Romans 15:16, Galatians 3:28, Joel 2:28, Acts 2:17

[8] Revelation 20:4-6, I Peter 2:5, Luke 10:19, Matthew 28:18, John 14:12, Luke 9:1, James 4:7