....GREETINGS!!!!....

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are living as foreigners in the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.  

1 Pet 1: 1-2 WEB

What a greeting!

To the ones “living as foreigners”  and to the ones in whom God is no respecter of persons!  This is how the Spirit read this scripture to me so that I could understand it.

To the chosen ones (in whom the Father has no partiality.  To you, and I, the BELIEVER of God’s Son), God our Father has SET YOU APART way from the beginning of time, He LOVES and chose us before we were made in our mother’s womb.  Yes, we were chosen!  We weren’t just a sparkle of God’s eye (a by-thought) but we are His sparkle!  We are the favored one, the apple of His eye, from the beginning!

To the OBEDIENT followers of Yeshua (Jesus Christ), we are protected.  One, with obedience, and Two by His precious blood, we have the most powerful prayer and promise: Grace and Peace.

Grace and Peace multiplied!

The chosen are the special.  Not “guests” of the Father, but “sons” of the Father.  We are a royal priesthood! A holy nation!  God’s special people…God’s special possession!  We are the ones that didn’t choose our Lord first, but HE CHOSE US from the beginning and appointed us that we should go and bear fruit and that our fruit should remain, so that whatever we ask the Father in His name, He shall do it.  We are the ones who have the Spirit of God in us, because we choose to fear the Lord!

Are you aware that the Father has set apart His faithful servant for himself?  

Is that you?  I want it to be me!  

Yeshua, our Lord, was such.  He was set apart for the goodness of God for Himself!  He was undefiled and pure, set apart from sinners, because He was sinless.  Thank you Lord!  He is precious, His blood, every drop that was shed is precious (not past tense precious) but this blood is still working today!  This precious blood is still powerful today, amen?

This is why we are set apart for our Lord- we are special in His sight.  We are washed in the blood.  God doesn’t see sin, but the blood of His Son, the one He gave to the world as sacrifice.  The pure and innocent one who traded places with us the sinner, so we could be set apart.  The sacrifice of Yeshua for us- the sinner- so we would become pure, holy, a royal priesthood and holy nation….  Jesus did this for us.  It is because of His blood that promises us grace and peace multiplied (more and more).  Halleluyah, Thank you Jesus.

So my question to you is this, as Christian follower of Jesus Christ, Yeshua our Messiah,  do you walk in/with this same Spirit which sanctified you into obedience?  Are you still obedient?  Are you making your Master proud that you are His Son or Daughter?

We can say we are Christian- go to church, know the scriptures from years of teaching.  Act the part.  But if we don’t walk out or live the part in sincerity we are fooling ourselves and wasting our time here.  This is NOT bearing fruit in God’s eyes, but is compared to a rotten apple.  (not the apple of God’s eye)

Are you the Apple of God’s eye?  Do you make God smile?  Is He proud of you?

Oh, I know we all have bumps and bruises, but have you gotten up and dusted yourself off with God’s help?  Have you asked for the blood of Jesus to be sprinkled over you so you can have the promise of grace and peace multiplied???? ((it’s an over and over kind of thing, because none of us is perfect!  Thank goodness God is!))

He is the lifter of our head, you know!  Ask God to help you. He wants to help you, you are His chosen! 

You know, we aren’t any different than the foreigners Peter was talking about.  We are temporarily here too.  We Christians are passing through, we are foreigners.  Our body is a tent, temporary.  We get to enjoy life here on earth.  We get to enjoy every breath, because none of knows if we have tomorrow.  So while today is TODAY, let us be a blessing in every possible way that we can.  

We can spread peace and give and be graceful to others.  We can show God’s love in obedience as the scripture states.  

This is why we were chosen!  To show the LOVE of the Father.

Now Father, in Jesus name, I ask special blessing over this message.  Father, you know who it belongs to, and who it will bless, and also, who it will be a nudge through the Holy Spirit, a nudge in obedience, a nudge to be fruitful, a nudge to be who you want us to be IN You Lord Jesus, we are the Chosen-  help us to act like it!

Help us not to meld into the world, but as You made us; SET APART- for Your goodness, for Your Self, so we will have the blessing of Your Smile upon us, that you will bless us, and keep us and make Your face smile upon us and give us peace.  Yes, Lord.  This temporary place is a place of enjoyment until our Eternal home is ready, and only You know Father when that day will come.  But in the meantime, help us to be the children of God You want us to be.  Bless us now abundantly with Grace and peace, I ask in Jesus name.

Amen

p.s.

To my bible study friends, Happy New Year!  To my snail mail buddies, God bless you too.  Please know that you are in my prayers.  I pray blessing over every one of you, in Jesus name. 

Now, may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.  

This I pray for you & for your faith, and also, for me.  I love you!  Your sister, Lorraine