A little bird born in a barnyard was picked on and bullied by the other ducklings. He felt ugly and sad. One day he was passing by the lake and saw his reflection. He wasn't a duck, he was a beautiful swan! Once he learned his true identity, he was overjoyed and transformed.
For the past three weeks, we as believers of God have learned about our real identity. We were in the darkness, but were guided into the light of the world. This has given us much conviction of our status, position, and job in this world. Today, we will learn why believers of Christ are to proclaim the praises of God.
First, we are a chosen people. God chose each one of us as children of God. The Greek word, ἐκλεκτόν (ekleton) means to choose something or someone with deep conviction as a deeply personal choice. God selected his people after deep and careful thought and conviction.
Second, we are a royal priesthood. We are God’s children. God is our king and thus we are his children, a royal family. We are privileged and cared and guided by God. We are asked to serve God and his people on this earth.
Third, we are a holy nation. Holy nation is the place where children of God live in. As a disciple of Christ, believers are told to obey and follow the law of God. Because they belong to the family of the kingdom of God. Believers are separated from the sinful secular world.
Believers of God are called brothers and sisters in Christ. They unite each other into the family of God. In the time of Peter, many believers suffered and lost everything. But they continued to meet together and help each other. And they praised God as a family.
1 Peter 2:9 says, “you may declare the praises of him (God) who called you out of darkness.” Peter said that believers of Christ were to praise God, because he took us from the darkness and guided into understanding and into the light of the world. So we believers living in this world praise God. In this way, we will understand why we need to praise God. Psalm 150:6, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” The reason why believers are to praise God is because God has given us this world and made us to praise him at all times. This word praise comes from the Greek word, ἀρετὰς (aretas). It means, “wonderful deeds, praises, excellence, worthiness of approval and praise.” The way believers of God praise God’s wonderful deeds and excellence are through our services and our lives.
1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” When believers of God need to praise God, they are to constantly live, work and praise for the glory of God. So Christians are told to live and work for God, no matter where they are, where they go, and what they do, because we are born to praise God. From now on, we will understand how to praise God.
Firstly, believers are told to serve God and his people. Mark 10:45 says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” The Greek word, διακονῆσαι(diakonēsai) means “wait at table particularly of a slave who waits on guest) to serve.” Some English words such as deacon, minister, servant originate from this word.
When we see our Lord Jesus, we understand the original meaning of servant. As we know, our Lord Jesus is known as King of kings and Lord of lords. He was to be served by his people, but he served them. He said, “I am here to serve, not to be served.” Because of this, we learned that we are to serve each other in our church. It does not matter who the people are and what they do.
Secondly, believers are told to teach and preach the word of God. Some people find this very hard to preach the word of God to non-believers. However I believe this is very important work for us.
Believers of God are children of God. We are to praise him and worship him while living in this magnificent world. We are told to give our praises to God through worship and with our lives. We are to serve God and his people as our Lord Jesus did. We are to teach and preach the word of God as our Lord said. May God bless you and your family!
Rev Dr Je Cheol Cook
First, we are a chosen people. God chose each one of us as children of God. The Greek word, ἐκλεκτόν (ekleton) means to choose something or someone with deep conviction as a deeply personal choice. God selected his people after deep and careful thought and conviction.
Second, we are a royal priesthood. We are God’s children. God is our king and thus we are his children, a royal family. We are privileged and cared and guided by God. We are asked to serve God and his people on this earth.
Third, we are a holy nation. Holy nation is the place where children of God live in. As a disciple of Christ, believers are told to obey and follow the law of God. Because they belong to the family of the kingdom of God. Believers are separated from the sinful secular world.
Believers of God are called brothers and sisters in Christ. They unite each other into the family of God. In the time of Peter, many believers suffered and lost everything. But they continued to meet together and help each other. And they praised God as a family.
1 Peter 2:9 says, “you may declare the praises of him (God) who called you out of darkness.” Peter said that believers of Christ were to praise God, because he took us from the darkness and guided into understanding and into the light of the world. So we believers living in this world praise God. In this way, we will understand why we need to praise God. Psalm 150:6, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” The reason why believers are to praise God is because God has given us this world and made us to praise him at all times. This word praise comes from the Greek word, ἀρετὰς (aretas). It means, “wonderful deeds, praises, excellence, worthiness of approval and praise.” The way believers of God praise God’s wonderful deeds and excellence are through our services and our lives.
1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” When believers of God need to praise God, they are to constantly live, work and praise for the glory of God. So Christians are told to live and work for God, no matter where they are, where they go, and what they do, because we are born to praise God. From now on, we will understand how to praise God.
Firstly, believers are told to serve God and his people. Mark 10:45 says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” The Greek word, διακονῆσαι(diakonēsai) means “wait at table particularly of a slave who waits on guest) to serve.” Some English words such as deacon, minister, servant originate from this word.
When we see our Lord Jesus, we understand the original meaning of servant. As we know, our Lord Jesus is known as King of kings and Lord of lords. He was to be served by his people, but he served them. He said, “I am here to serve, not to be served.” Because of this, we learned that we are to serve each other in our church. It does not matter who the people are and what they do.
Secondly, believers are told to teach and preach the word of God. Some people find this very hard to preach the word of God to non-believers. However I believe this is very important work for us.
Believers of God are children of God. We are to praise him and worship him while living in this magnificent world. We are told to give our praises to God through worship and with our lives. We are to serve God and his people as our Lord Jesus did. We are to teach and preach the word of God as our Lord said. May God bless you and your family!
Rev Dr Je Cheol Cook