“But you are God’s chosen treasure—priests who are kings, a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called you out of darkness to experience his marvelous light, and now he claims you as his very own. He did this so that you would broadcast his glorious wonders throughout the world. 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!”
1 Peter 2:9-10 TPT
When I was in junior high and high school, my PE coaches would often assign captains to pick teams when we were playing games like dodgeball and soccer. I discovered it was a privilege and a curse to be the team captain because the captain was forced to make the hard choices.
Everyone in the class would line up nervously. The first captain would pick a player. Then the second captain would pick a player. Then back to the first captain. Choosing teammates required some strategy. A captain might pick the most athletic girls first if she really wanted to win the game. She might also consider choosing her friends first so she could hang out with them on the field.
I’ve always had a soft heart, so I would intentionally choose the kids I knew were going to get picked last. I hated the idea that someone would have to wait to be chosen until the very end. My heart was to show them grace and mercy, not just to build a team in the expected way.
Someone who is described as “chosen” is said to be the object of divine favor or is given a special privilege. Throughout the pages of Scripture, the word chosen is used to mean elect, examined, preferred, and selected.
In the first two chapters of Genesis, we see God choose Adam and Eve as His special creation. Everything else God speaks into existence, but God chooses to bend low and form Adam from the dust of the earth. God also knew it was not good for Adam to be alone, so the Master Sculptor chooses to fashion Eve from one of Adam’s ribs. Both man and woman are created in the image and likeness of God according to Genesis 1:26.
Adam and Eve — and all of us — are chosen to be distinct spiritual and physical beings who reflect God’s glory to the world. We have been given the privilege and task of stewarding creation well.
The opening passage from 1 Peter highlights our call as believers and recipients of God’s mercy to “broadcast his glorious wonders throughout the world.” There are many ways we can point others to His glory. Maybe it’s telling a friend or someone we meet on an airplane about how God has transformed our lives. Maybe it’s writing about God’s glory in a book or posting photos on Instagram that show His glory. Maybe it’s singing a song or composing a poem or painting a picture.
Friend, you are chosen. You are chosen to live in this era, this generation, this year with its many challenges and privileges. The story you are living today, the message you carry in your heart, the people you are leading and feeding — all of these present an opportunity to give God glory. Don’t miss it!
Dear Lord, thank You for drenching me in Your love and mercy today. I am humbled that You chose me to be Your witness in the world. Give me the creativity and courage to share the story of Your glory with others in my spheres of influence. Amen.
Written by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young
In our divisive and unforgiving world, we need mercy more than ever. When we extend grace toward one another despite faults, mistakes, and differences of opinion, we model the kind of long-suffering patience and love that God shows toward us. But how do you cultivate a merciful heart in the midst of a culture where everyone seems quick to judge and slow to forgive? Where do you begin?
The Create in Me a Heart of Mercy (in)courage Bible study, written by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young and featuring stories from your favorite (in)courage writers, will guide you in exploring the depths of God’s mercy for you.
The mercy God has shown us through Jesus is meant to flow through us to the rest of the world as a powerful witness to God’s love and forgiveness. Let God create in you a heart of mercy!
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Mercy we all need it. As with out God giving it to us mercy showing us compassion and forgiveness for our sins we wouldn’t be were we are today. Followers of Jesus God did showed us compassion and forgiveness for our sins by having his son died on Calvary Cross for them. So as we could all have a personal relationship with him. Showing us also how to live right and love our neighbour as yourself the way God would want us to at all times. Helping us show compassion to those who have done something that is not right to us and helping us pray for them and forgive them. If can and they will listen tell them you have forgiven them and your praying for them. Not letting what they did to you get to you learn to leave it with Jesus. I say Amen to that. Dawn Ferguson-Little Enniskillen Co.Fermanagh N.Ireland xx
Dear Dorina…What a joy to begin my day today in reading your devotional. I am a very spiritual women of next week becoming 78 years old. It is difficult for me to convince residents that live in the Senior facility that I live in. Even though they attend church services and say they believe, they are all older than me up to over 100 years old. I was forced to live here by my now ex husband of 54 years has a violent form of dementia and tried to kill me. There is so much more to this story, but it is way too long and complicated. I have been telling people that will listen about what I call a miracle that happened to me. I will say before I tell you, Dorina the story that not one of them believed me and told me I was making it up. They also do not seem to know about the Holy Spirit who plays a big part in my life. Back in 2002, I had to have a very serious operation that could only be done by a gynacoligist oncologist even though it was not cancer, my doctor did not have experience in what needed to be done. I had a large ball of endometriosis that was behind my vagina cuff. I had the almost 10 hours of surgery which is a very long time to be under anesthesia. I woke up in a very agitated state. I was kept in the recovery room all night to be sure I was all right. The next morning I went back to my room and my husband was there and the head of this department. He did not do the surgery, but he told the nurse to give me a certain medication. Less than 2 minutes later, I coded and they pushed my husband out of the room and everyone came running. I ended up on the ICU and my husband was told I would not survive the night. They had placed me in a drug induced coma and here is the story that no one believes. At sometime that night, in my brain everything looked white and all of a sudden I saw Jesus standing there next to me along with my Holy Spirit who was whispering to me what Jesus was telling me. He said, “Betsy, be not afraid, it is not your time as you have so much to give to other people. I will give you strength, but you also have to fight very hard.You must believe that your strength I give you will help you, but you also have to fight with all your heart and soul and mine. As my Holy Spirit whispered Jesus’s words in my ear to be sure I heard him, something changed within my body and apparently I follows Jesus and my Holy Spirit’s words. I survived the night and 2 weeks later they began to bring me out of the coma. There is so much more to the story, but not today. It still upsets me that not 1 person I told this experience to, does not believe that it really happened. I have given up telling people as it upsets me that they say I was dreaming, but I wasn’t. I continue my spiritual growth as many more things have happened, but prayer and belief are helping me through each one. Thank you, Dorina for your words as they have given me more hope that I should not believe what these people do. I was there. Not even my husband believed me. I send my love to you and all the (in)courage women who help me every day to move on and today 9/11, I pray for the people that were killed and their families and friends. It is hard to believe it has been 24 years. Also, I pray for the heroes that were first responders and volunteers that helped wherever they could. Our world right now is upside down and it is frightening. Thanks to you again………….Betsy Basile
Betsy, I believe every word about your encounter with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. What a wonder blessing to have received! Wishing you a happy 78th birthday next week!
Thank you so much for your devotional… We share the same heart. Sending you fall JOY on this difficult day,
Lisa Wilt.
I think it’s important to remember that we all have been given mercy and we have to reflect on that and then extend it out to others.