You are Among the “Chosen Ones”

1 Peter 1:1-2, NIV - Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

 

Today, we begin looking at the first of two letters commissioned by Peter, one of the central figures in the early Christian movement and one of the original disciples of Christ.  The letter is commissioned by Peter, but it is actually composed by one of Peter’s disciples/assistants named Silvanus. It was written to gentile Christians in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) who were experiencing persecution from their neighbors. 

 

Right here in the opening we’re introduced to one of Peter’s key themes that he will continue to develop throughout the letter and in 2 Peter.  He addressed the letter to “God’s elect.”  This is the term used to describe the Hebrew people throughout the Old Testament, but Peter uses it to describe the gentile Christians to which he writes.  This is on purpose. Peter wants the gentile followers of Jesus to know that God chose them just as much as He chose Abraham and the Israelites.  It was God’s intention to use the Hebrew people as a vehicle for of sharing God’s blessing with all the peoples of the earth.  Peter’s audience are the people God mentions in Genesis when God promises that, through Abraham, all the nations of the earth will receive God’s blessing.  All would be invited into God’s family.  You and I are one of those people as well.  We are part of the family of God.   Abraham is our Father as well.  

 

                Right now, approximately 3 out of every 10 of the world’s people are professed followers of Christ.  What I’d like to point out is that each of those Christians became Christians because of who their parents, friends, or other people they know were also Christians.  The fact that we know or are related to them closely enough to “catch” their faith in Jesus is significant.  Some might even call it luck, but they’d be wrong.  We were chosen.  We were called to be one of the 3 in 10 so that we might be a witness to the other 7. 

 

                You and I were chosen for the mission of God.  Spend a few moments pondering that.  You didn’t happen to wander into faith in Jesus.  God has been working in your life since before you were conceived by your parents to bring you into the Family.   It’s not an accident.  You are here because God wants you here.  And God wants you here because there is a purpose that only you can fulfill.  Don’t take that lightly.  Don’t shrug it off as unimportant.  You are part of God’s chosen people.  Live like it.

 

Question:  Do you truly see yourself as someone chosen by God for a holy purpose?

 

Prayer:  Give us your eyes Lord that we might see ourselves for who we truly are – your chosen ones for your purposes.  Give us enough confidence in that truth that we begin to live it.  Amen.

 

Prayer Focus:  Pray for 7 people you know who are not followers of Jesus.

 

Song:  Family of God - Newsboys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6kOkIJV-0M

One of the Things I Wish Jesus Hadn’t Said

Mark 3:20-35 - Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat.  When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”

So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan?  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.  And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.  In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house.  Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”

He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”

Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him.  A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”

“Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.

Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!  Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

 

Mark has “buried the lead” here.  The story he tells here about Jesus’s family trying to “take charge of him” because they believe He might have gone off the deep end.  But in the middle of the account, Jesus drops a bombshell on the scribes that has caused problems for would-be Jesus followers ever since:

“…but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”

This statement is honestly something I wish Jesus had not said.  I have encountered so many people over the course of three decades of ministry that get tripped up by this saying of Jesus.  Some have, with anguish, shared that they feared that they had committed this unforgivable sin.  My answer has come to be the following: “if you have any real fear that you might have committed this sin, then you haven’t.  

Remember who Jesus is addressing here.  The scribes/pharisees have already been exposed as seeking a justifiable reason to kill Jesus.  In previous reflections on earlier passages in Mark, we saw how these religious leaders were using the holy law given by God to actually kill Jesus.  They have accused Jesus of blasphemy (speaking against the ways of God), but Jesus warns that the leaders are the ones in danger of being blasphemers here.  They are calling the work of Jesus the work of the prince of demons.   They are so consumed by their own agenda, they are willing to blatantly and publicly lie about what they know to be the work of God with no fear that God will hold them accountable.  Jesus identifies this as the point of no return.  So, if you have any fear that you might be offending God in an unforgivable way, then you haven’t done so.

But before we go, let’s return to Mark’s main story here about Jesus’s family coming to collect him for fear that He is crazy.  This is important because it provides Jesus the opportunity to teach a very important truth.  When Jesus is told that His mother and brothers are waiting, he asks a question that He Himself answers; “Who are my mother and my brothers?”

Looking at the people around Him that have been following Him, he says, ““Here are my mother and my brothers!  Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Jesus expands the definition of family beyond biology.  Following God creates a family connection with those who are doing the same.  I have experienced this truth throughout my life.  My connection to God’s community has blessed me with several women who have functioned as additional mothers to me beyond the one that gave me birth.  I have additional father figures in my life as well.  I even affectionately call some of these people “Mom” and “Dad.”  Likewise, I have four biological children, but many more who I consider to be my “adopted children” because of my strong connection to them.  And of course, I have many more brothers and sisters than biology has afforded me.  All of these people are not “like family” to me.  They ARE family to me along with my biological family.  The same Love that created my biological family is creates a much bigger family to which we can all choose to belong.

 

Question:  Who are your mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers beyond biology?

 

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, we acknowledge Your work among us.  Today, we especially thank you for knitting us together as a family of those who acknowledge Your work.  Strengthen our connection to You and to each other.  Amen.

 

Prayer Focus:  Pray for members of your church today as their names come to mind.

 

Song:  The Family of God – Newsboys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6kOkIJV-0M

Matthew 12:46-50 - A Growing Family

 

A Growing Family

 

Matthew 12:46-50, NIV - “While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him.  Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

 

Like so many things Jesus said, this ruffles a lot of feathers, and for good reason. Jesus seems to be denigrating his family, but I have never taken it that way.  Jesus is not just Joseph and Mary’s boy; He’s the Son of God.  As such, Jesus was simply expanding the notion of family beyond biology.  I remember reading this as a teenager and feeling affirmed in something that was already happening in my life.  Me and my three best friends – Travis, Matt, and Tim began to think of ourselves as brothers.  We were always at each other’s houses and so we got close not just to each other, but also each other’s families.  All four of us started calling all four mothers “Mom” and the fathers “Dad.” To this day, I still think of all of them that way.

That trend has continued to this day.  There are so many honorary McCreazies that I’ve lost count. My kids have a “Granny V” that is not related to them biologically.  Barbara and I have “children” that we claim who already have parents.  We have found an extended family in the community that Jesus created. 

One last thing about that.  We McCreazies are blessed that we already have a loving family that came to us through biology.  But not everybody does.  Because of the family following Jesus creates, people who have no family find family through a shared connection to Jesus.   I think this is the beautiful thing Jesus had in mind when he said, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?  Here are my mother and my brothers.”  I love that. How about you?

 

Question:  Who would you lift up as other members of your family that you have because of Jesus? 

 

Prayer:  Thank you God for blessing us with a family that transcends biology.  Amen.

 

Prayer Focus:  Pray for people who are utterly alone in the world right now.

 

Song: We are Family – Various Artists

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPnhkr2Vr0Q