Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! 1 Peter 1:3 (NIV)
God said, “Let there be a community of people with one consuming passion—to declare the praise of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
In other words, God was saying, “Let it be a community of people who have been born again to living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Let it be a community of people who give themselves to the pursuit of a life of holiness, who live in the light of eternity, and who love one another deeply from the heart.”
“And as these people come to me,” God has said, “I will come to them. I will make my presence and blessing known among them.” Lord, make us such a people—for the glory of Jesus Christ, and for the blessing of our communities.
God is gathering people from every nation on the face of the earth. He is bringing them to faith in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is empowering them by his Holy Spirit. He is drawing them together into communities of believers who declare his praise and experience his presence.
As you come to Christ, this is what God is doing. God builds us into a house where his presence is known. God makes us priests who offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God. He calls us to declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness and into his marvelous light.
Do you see what God is doing in you and around you?
