It is amazing to think that before the world became His children, His possessions, and His creations, God chose us to love us, now and forever. We are precious in God’s eyes. Everything God created and did was done out of love for His chosen ones. However, it’s not easy to understand, right? Even though we read about the cross of Calvary, where our Lord made the ultimate sacrifice for you and me, somehow we sometimes fail to see ourselves as God sees us, redeemed and cleansed by the blood of the Lamb.
Whether you have children or not, whether you don’t have children but are the children of a mother and father, you have experienced unconditional love in one way or another. It may not have been your parents who found themselves in such an unfortunate situation, but a relative or friend. Still, “I’ve never had a day in my life where I wasn’t loved” (CS Lewis). Certainly, from an eternal perspective, this is true regarding the Father’s love, but even for flawed humans, the words still ring true. We can love and receive that love unconditionally.
Yet, we can sometimes have a hard time feeling loved and loved. If we see ourselves this way, it can become, to some extent, a self-fulfilling prophecy. Our actions can actually make us undesirable. If we constantly put ourselves down, we won’t be able to attract positive people. Because our negative emotions drag everyone down, starting a vicious cycle of feeling unloved or unwanted.
Everyone has the opportunity to be loved by God, but not everyone accepts this free gift. Did we fully understand that when we, as believers, accepted the free gift of salvation, we were also accepting the eternal and perfect love of God?
When we live in the reality of God’s love, we can walk with confidence in God. We express ourselves in a way that shows we are sons and daughters of the King of Heaven. Not in a conceited way, but in a way that shows we are with the Lord. By walking in this way, we can live for the glory of God.
But what does it look like to live for the glory of God? The apostle Peter gives us a blueprint for doing just that.
As a newborn baby
“Therefore, putting aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander, as newborn babies, covet the pure milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby in salvation, having tasted the tenderness of the Lord.” 1 Peter 2:1-3
I am currently enjoying my precious new granddaughter who is almost 4 months old. She still sticks to her sleep, eating, playtime, and schedule. However, she may be picky. One day she finishes the bottle. Other times I feel like I’m bottle-feeding an owl (lol). The owl’s little head continues to move back and forth and continues to look around. Then she loses interest in feeding.
In order to live for the glory of God, we need to make sure that my sweet granddaughter comes over to read the Bible for dinner from time to time and is not interested in what is going on around her or what she is thinking. Rather, we need to “drink the bottle” and absorb everything we’re reading in an intentional, purposeful, and life-changing way.
The more we read the Bible, the more we want it to feed our souls and live to the glory of God in everything we do and say, just as the newborn Peter describes.
as a living stone
“You also are being built as living stones a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5
Have you ever thought of yourself as a priest? When we think of priests, we see visions of authorities wearing elaborate robes. So what does it look like to be a member of God’s holy priesthood, offering acceptable spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ?
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God Himself, that you may proclaim the excellence of Him who called you out of darkness into His wondrous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You had no mercy, but now you have mercy. Beloved, I urge you, Gentiles and Gentiles, to refrain from the desires of the flesh that make war against souls. “Your works are excellent among the Gentiles, so that when they observe your good works you may glorify God in the day of visitation, although they slander you as evildoers.” 1 Peter 2:9-12
Again, we see the importance of seeing ourselves as God sees us. In humility, we recognize our worth before God, while also realizing how merciful God is to us.
In order to live as living stones to the glory of God, we abstain from all fleshly desires and do good deeds in the name of the Lord. To exclude self from our actions and become selfless for the glory of God.
honor authority
“Submit yourselves to every institution of man for the sake of the Lord. Whether it is a king in power, or a governor sent by a king to punish those who do evil and praise those who do what is right, by doing what is right, silence the ignorance of foolish people. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a cover for evil, but as slaves of God. Honor all men, fear God, and honor others.” 1 Peter. 2:13-17
Respect for authority seems to be the issue these days. I’ve seen that whether it’s adhering to coronavirus mandates during the pandemic or a general distaste for politicians in public office, this is a big issue for some Christians. Non-Christians are watching us as Christians, waiting to call us out when we act contrary to their beliefs of how Christians should act. Whether they are wrong or they are right, we must conduct ourselves in a way that brings glory to God by respecting all people, loving brotherhood, fearing God, and respecting officials. That doesn’t mean condoning things that are clearly contrary to God’s Word, but doing so in a way that lacks love at its core is where we stumble and fall.
When we respect authority and live for the glory of God, we recognize that God is the ultimate authority over all institutions and that His will prevails.
Christ is our example
“For Christ also suffered for you, and left you an example to follow in his footsteps. He sinned not, nor was there any deceit found in his mouth; and though he was reviled, he did not revile back; and though he suffered, he made no threats, but righteously And Christ Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness.”For through the wounds of Jesus you were healed. ” 1 Peter 2:21-24
When we wake up each morning and remember who we are and who loves us with an eternal love, we follow in the footsteps of Christ and walk gratefully with a desire to please God.
I confess that this really takes practice and I need to be reminded of it too. I think some of the biggest stumbling blocks of sin in a Christian’s life are the actions of others. We want to “get back at it,” but we often succumb to the temptation. When we live for the glory of God, we keep entrusting ourselves to the One who judges us justly, rather than letting us sin because of the actions of others. Think of the insults, betrayals, and beatings that Jesus suffered. But like a lamb to the slaughter, Jesus continued to commit himself to his Heavenly Father and did not sin. Jesus set these examples so that we would not suffer because of our sins.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 When we make this a pervasive thought in our lives, whether in difficult situations or with difficult people, we will truly model Christ-like behavior and live to the glory of God.
When we remember to come to the Word like newborn babies, walk in the chosen priesthood, respect authority, and model Christ, we will consistently live to the glory of God.
Photo credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Jantanee Rungpranomkorn
Karen Dell Tattoo is a blogger, author, women’s ministry leader, pastor’s wife, mother, and grandmother who is passionate about God’s Word. Her blog, “Growing Together in Grace and Knowledge,” and her books, “Choosing to Trust God: Breaking the Habit of Worry,” “A 30-Day Devotional,” and “Choosing to Trust God Companion Journal,” reveal her heart offering biblical insights to inspire women to grow in, through, and overcome hardship. Karen and her husband live in Rhode Island and enjoy walking in the woods, petting owls, and spending time with their grandchildren.
