Declare the Goodness of God!

SNEAK PEEK at a part of May's release!  Cannot wait for tomorrow!

Hello again, ladies.
Last Friday, I had the opportunity to deliver a small message with some of the ladies in my local church.  We had a virtual "tea" and may I just tell you, what a thrill to see and hear these special ladies!!  It was only a 45 minute Zoom chat, but there was plenty of smiles to last me...at least until the Saturday. ;)
When God lays it on your heart to share something, you should.  That's why I want to share with you what He gave me to share on Friday.

This past year God has shown me over and over again that I need the Gospel. I've been a Christian for over 20 years and I still need the Gospel every day. I need Jesus to be a better mom, to be a better friend, to be a better wife, to be a better me.

The first thing God has been teaching me is this: The Gospel is for all people, whether you are a disciple of Jesus or one who has walked away or one who doesn't know who Jesus is, you need the Gospel.

The second thing God has been teaching me is this: The Gospel is for all people, whether you're interacting with a disciple of Jesus or one who has walked away or one who doesn't know who Jesus is, they need the Gospel.

Let's look a bit at something that I believe the Lord wants to say to all of us about that.  1 Peter 2:1ff says,

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
    a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone,”

8 and

“A stone of stumbling,
    and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

 WOW!  Did you see it?

If you have not rejected the Living Stone (that's talking about Jesus Christ) but instead, believe God is building you as a spiritual house to be "a holy and royal priesthood" you have power for impact to those around you.

But what does it mean to for us to be priests? Cuz, that's kinda different.
Back when Peter wrote this, when someone thought of a "priest" they would have thought of a Jew from the tribe of Levi, publicly ordained and anointed with oil, to be a minister and mediator between man and God by way of offerings and sacrifices.  I got to thinking and studying about this, and would submit that it's not so much the title of "priest" that Peter is emphasizing, but rather the lifestyle of a priest.  As Peter speaks, he doesn't say a word about being a Jew, or a Levite, dripping oil, handling the blood of sacrifice, or any such specific access to the Holy of Holies…

So, if that's not what he's referring to, what does he mean? Listen again to what Peter says of us…

1. a holy nation - Set apart, anointed not by oil, but the fire of the Holy Spirit.
2. a people for God’s own possession - in His service, working as a purposed part of His body of believers to keep the body functioning with Christ as head.
3. to proclaim

announce officially or publicly,

declare something you consider important with due emphasis

   4.     the virtues:  that's a strange word, so here's what virtues means:

behavior showing high moral standards

In face some of your translations of the Bible may say, "goodness," "excellencies," and "praises"

of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."

At first, I couldn't see anything here that Peter is saying as having much relation to a priest's responsibility in the Old Covenant.  At least, I couldn't before I had this book, "Christ-centered Exposition in Leviticus."
Peter is telling us the purpose of our life in Christ.

How are we like the Levitical priests?

We are set apart and distinct representatives of God, that's true. What else?

He says, Proclaim…

Declare…

Make public the goodness and praises of God?  Did priests used to do that?

Priests, even in the strange garb and attire, turbans and all, announced God's virtues. Even as the ordained minister of sacrifices, handling the offering of an animal, blood, guts, and all, his proclamation would be, "the goodness of God."

Upon fulfillment of the sacrifice by the priest, someone - the one who brought the sacrifice and offering for sin, for guilt, for restitution, would be declared forgiven; covered; made right with and reconciled to God.  You can see that all over in the sacrificial system as written in Leviticus.

Their job pointed to the Messiah.  Jesus is the fulfillment of the law (Matt. 5:17)
We know that He was a Jew, from the Kingly line of Judah (Heb. 7, Rev. 5);  He was anointed by God the Father Himself (Matt. 3:17)
to be the High Priest and Mediator between God and man
(Heb. 7), offering Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of all people (John 3:16).  And, as Hebrews again puts it appears "for us in God's presence." (9:24)

The priest's were pointing to the Gospel! And what is the Gospel?  The spotless Lamb, Jesus Christ, was sacrificed for our sins, our guilt, to restore and reconcile us to God, that we would be declared forgiven! Covered! Made right in our relationship to God Almighty.  This is wonderful news!  This was wonderful news for the Hebrew children in the time of the Levitical system, and it's wonderful news for us, right now, in the 21st century!

Peter says,

"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."

We are priests, not of the Levitical priesthood; but of a royal priesthood.
We are priests, not serving an earthly high priest, but under the rule of a perfect heavenly high priest.
We are priests, not by name, but by lifestyle.

We are priests, partakers in a holy calling, having tasted and seen that the Lord is INDEED GOOD, commissioned to declare the goodness of God - the praises of God - the mercies of God - the grace of God - the love of God.  Peter writes that
We have been chosen.

We have been forgiven.

We have been set apart.

We have become priests, in God's service, to proclaim and declare God's goodness - the Gospel.  And,  as we have encountered it in our lives, and as we know it to be completely needed in our world around us.  Like we agreed on before, we need this good news and we all know people who also need this good news!
News is for sharing.  News is for proclaiming.  This news of God's goodness is our declaration today! The Gospel is for us to give to others that they too may

1. Taste and see that the Lord is good
2. Come out of darkness into light
3. Become a people of God
4. Obtain the mercy of God
5. Become a priest under Christ
6. And declare the goodness of God to more!

I pray this was good for your heart and soul.  God's word is living and active, and I'm so excited that we have this good news to share with all people!

Much love,

Deeds

Stamps Used:
Begin Again (Sneak peak!)
Rebecca Script