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Chosen People

             But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (I Peter 2:9) 

            I find myself thinking about Moses and Aaron and the high priests. Moses tried to get out of the job God gave him. We’re never told what Aaron thought about being Moses’ puppet and then high priest. Was he excited? Overwhelmed? Resentful? When God (though Peter) tells you that you are chosen, a member of the royal priesthood, what’s your reaction? Mine isn’t exactly positive. I want to ask God if He’s noticed what happens when I get into a leadership position. Or maybe whether He might somehow (in spite of being perfect) have gotten me mixed up with some competent people person who isn’t quite so likely to screw it all up.

            In Word Fire, Kathoa welcomes Hannecha to the “Community of the Incompetents.” I don’t know how my mind comes up with these things, but I love the line, because it strikes so close to home. It reminds me of the saying that God doesn’t call the qualified He qualifies the called. He chose me because I’m not good enough. If I were good enough, I’d carry on without Him. Because I’m not good enough, I’m less likely to say, “No, Daddy, I do it myself!”

            And I suspect His goal isn’t just to teach me. That’s part of it, of course, but there’s also the fact that being a member of the royal priesthood requires that I spend time with Him. In order to declare the praise of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light, one needs to see and/or spend time in that wonderful light. To be a priest for others, one must be a priest for oneself. 

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