sokin's devotional 17

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved..."

Colossians 3:12

"David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, and tambourines, cymbals and trumpets."

1 Chronicles 13:8

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We are God's chosen people. 

Holy and dearly loved.

This verse starts out by saying something so mind-boggling and paradoxical. How, how and why could a just and holy God, love a sinner such as I?

Only by the blood of Jesus Christ, who bore God's wrath upon His shoulders so that we could be dearly loved and seen as holy in the eyes of God.

We have such a great testimony of God's grace and favor upon us yet we often live as if it was our right to receive this.

In the old testament, David and the Israelites are seen dancing, singing, rejoicing because the presence of God (the ark) was brought back to them.

In the new testament, we see that God does not reside in the tents or houses or temples..but rather in each of us by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He is our guarantee, our "deposit guaranteeing our inheritance..." (ephesians 1:14)

It was never our right to receive anything from God. It was never our inheritance to receive God's presence in each of us. We deserved death. We received mercy.

Let's live like it.