Titus 2:14
“…He sacrificed himself for us that he might purchase our freedom from every lawless deed and to purify for himself a people who are his very own, passionate to do what is beautiful in his eyes…”
Last night I was sitting with a young lady that is forced into a position she really doesn’t want to be in. Living in a culture where family, heritage and ancestors takes pride of place, having to choose between responsibility and family, knowing if she choses one, the other is probably lost forever.
And it’s easy to judge, but she believes she has no choice in the matter.
1 Peter 2:8 speaks about the quote from Isaiah 8:14 about Jesus being the stone that makes them stumble and a rock that they trip over but then explains why they fall over Jesus instead of falling for Jesus:
“… They keep stumbling over the message because they refuse to believe it. And this they were destined to do”
Once, when I thought that life is done, a good lady told me that God destined me to be an example. However, the choice in this case would be mine: will I be a good example that might encourage others to do better, or will I be a bad example that will encourage other to do better?
Without a Judas, what would our story look like? Without a dedicated religious leadership that was desperately trying to keep a nation close to God… how would Jesus be sacrificed?
Our message of salvation is simple, but God’s truths are also quite simple. In fact it is so simple that I keep on stumbling over them, even as a thoroughly saved and believing follower of Christ.
Verse 9 says:
” But you are God’s CHOSEN TREASURE“ we are God’s Segullah, סְגֻלָּה
Segullah is a jewel, a peculiar treasure, proper good, special – its a reference to guarded wealth – something so valuable that it is protected, the kings highest treasure.
We are a spiritual nation set apart. And God did this so that we can broadcast His glorious wonders throughout the world.
So unlike a kings treasure that is locked away in a vault, we are a treasure, protected… thoroughly protected, but pushed out into the world to be a testimony, to speak again, to show again, to change people’s lives by being in their frame of reference…
People can say their lives were changed forever when they met Jack Ma because he showed them himself… and his treasure made in this world, for this world… but will that young lady last night say that meeting me changed her life? And because I am not sure… my heart is crying this morning because I forgot for a moment that I was God’s Chosen in that moment… to shy, to careful not to offend.
“For at one time you were not God’s people, but now you are. At one time you knew nothing of God’s mercy, because you hadn’t received it yet, but now you are drenched with it!”
