Skip to main content

Devotional 1.16.26

 


January 16, 2026 – Chosen, Called & Cracked

1 Peter 2:9 – 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.

Scripture Reading – Genesis 12:10-20

 

Our passages this week reflect the familiar saying, “God doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called.” More often than not, we read about people in Scripture who are imperfect, weak, and mess up. They are often described as broken vessels, “cracked” jars of clay. Yet, these flawed people, people like us, are those who have become a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession.

 

Abraham was called by God, promised to be made a great nation and given land. In response he built altars and called upon the name of the LORD (Gen. 12:1-9). Yet, the next thing we read is an account of Abraham behaving as someone who fears man more than he trusts in the promises of God. However, God’s promises weren’t contingent on what Abraham did, but on who God is.

 

Similarly, Peter was one of Jesus’ chosen disciples, part of his inner circle, and went on to be a foundational leader in the early church. But there were bumps along the road. Peter doubted. He denied Jesus. He acted rashly and didn’t always interact diplomatically with others. None of that derailed God’s plans to use Peter mightily. Peter was sifted like wheat (Luke 22:31-32). His faith was refined, matured, and after he turned again (repented), he strengthened his brothers. That is Peter’s charge at the end of our reading – that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. This is the hope of the gospel. Jesus meets us where we are, in our brokenness, shame, and sinful state. But praise God, he doesn’t leave us there. He calls, and empowers, us to strive for holiness and to live in the light. 

 

Our worship songs on Sunday reflect these truths. We need Jesus. We can come to him honestly, trusting him with our flaws and brokenness. Though we fail, Jesus’s love is sure. We have assurance that we are completely known, completely loved, completely saved, not by any works we have done. We are covered in our Savior’s blood. Let us “turn again” in response.

 

Further reading: Gen. 12:1-9; 15:1-20; Heb. 11:8-12 | Matt. 14:28-31, 26:69-75; 1 Pet. 2:1-25   

 

Reflection Questions:

1.     Are there broken areas of your life that you haven’t authentically brought to Jesus?

2.     If so, how might that be hindering you from living fully in his marvelous light?

 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, that you that I am completely known and completely loved. Thank you for the assurance that I am covered by your blood. Forgive me for the times I’ve tried to clean myself up before turning to you. Give me courage to take an honest inventory of hidden sins that I haven’t confessed and brought to you. Help me to live in your marvelous light. Amen.


You can listen to a playlist of the morning worship songs here.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Devotional 7.11.25

July 11, 2025 – Tell The Story Matthew 28:18-20:  And Jesus came and said to them,  “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.   Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,   teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”   Scripture Reading – Psalm 78   What’s your story? What is God’s redemptive story? Do those intersect for you? This week is a good time to reflect on those questions. The writer of Psalm 78 is recounting the lessons from Israel’s past. Asaph is doing this to remind them of who God is, the mighty and faithful acts he’s done, and that Israel (the tribe of Judah, v. 68) are God’s chosen people. The psalmist’s desire is that they not only repent of their sin and unbelief (v. 32), but that their transformation and turning back to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Devotional 5.16.25

Yours, O Lord, Is the Kingdom   1 Chronicles 29:10-11 Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.   Scripture Reading: Psalm 70   Psalm 70 is a cry for urgent help: “Make haste, O God, to deliver me!” In contrast, 1 Chronicles 29 declares God’s eternal rule, power, and glory. Together, they reveal two essential truths of faith: God is both near to the needy and exalted above all. We pray for deliverance while praising His unshakable sovereignty. David, in his final prayer, praised the Lord not for personal blessing, but for God’s eternal kingship and majesty. When we feel weak and desperate like the psalmist, we look up and remember the greatness of our God and His amazing love demonstrated in sending Jesus Christ (John 3:16; R...
Post a Comment
Read more

Devotional 8.22.25

Our Future Hope    John 14:1–3 Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.   Scripture Reading – Psalm 84   Jesus comforts His disciples by promising them a place in His Father’s house. This assurance reminds us that no matter how unsettled or uncertain life feels, our true home is secure in Him. Psalm 84 echoes this longing: “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” The psalmist celebrates the joy of God’s presence, where even the sparrow finds a home. Together, these passages show us that the Christian life is not about striving to belong in this world but about resting in the promise of Christ’s eternal dwelling place. A reminder that life with Jesus starts now and lasts forever. Our hea...
Post a Comment
Read more