A Worshipper Who is Humble Recognizes His/Her Position

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:17-21

If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.  For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Insights:  A. W. Tozer in his book The Crucified Life uses the illustration about a deaf man reading a book during a Mozart concert and a blind person being yelled at while at the Louvre for not looking at the paintings.  Tozer’s point was that these two individuals did not have the capacity to appreciate the music for the deaf man nor the sight to enjoy the art works for the blind man.  He applied this reality to the lost world.  One who is not born again does not have the capacity to enjoy the things of God.  They are not able to look at creation, for example, and be drawn into intense worship of our Creator because they don’t know the Lord in this fashion.  One, however, who has received the precious gift of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ is positionally right with the Lord God.  This individual is a new creation because they have been born again spiritually.  They now have the rights and privileges of an adopted child in the Kingdom of our God and King.  Today’s verses conclude with the phrase “so that your faith and hope are in God.”  Beloved, we have a faith and hope that is IN God.  It is not in ourselves.  It is not in the government.  It is not in other people.  It is not in economics or technology.  Our faith and hope are IN God.  This truth is a very byproduct of being in the right relational position with our loving Father.  Let me encourage you to spend the day thinking about the power found in this one aspect of your relationship with Jesus.  Worship Him without reservation because of this positional reality you are experiencing.

Questions:

1.  Have you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

2.  If you have, do you understand and recognize the positional significance of such a surrendered life?

Prayer: Father, I must admit that I often forget what pleasure I have in being Your adopted son.  I am permanently and forever in Your family.  This privilege alone ought to make me a worshipper of You, my Savior and Lord.  Please forgive me when I take my position for granted and ignore the cost this gift to me really cost You.  Be glorified my Lord.  Amen.