God’s Beloved Ones

Our “Healing Waters” series addressing the wounds caused by religious trauma continues on Sunday, May 7.  This week we will be exploring 1 Peter 2:1-10 and what it means for someone to hear that they are God’s beloved.  Here is a preview.

Early Christian communities were filled with people who had been told again and again that they could never be enough.  These were people on the margins.  The poor.  The powerless.  The broken.  Slaves.  Women.  Gentiles.  And no wonder, because these were the very people Jesus himself interacted with. 

Jesus spent all of his time ministering to people on the margins.  The people left out, left behind, left for dead.  Samaritans.  Prostitutes.  Tax collectors.  Lepers.  Demoniacs.  Those ailing in body and spirit.  Blind men.  Paralyzed men.  And let’s not forget the women.  Jesus ministered to, acknowledged, and valued the women around him. 

People on the margins, all. 

Think about how these words from 1 Peter would have resonated with them:  “Once you were no people, but now you are God’s people” (1 Peter 2:10).  Wait a minute.  I’m not a nobody, you mean?  I’m a somebody?  I have worth, and I am accepted here for me? 

This isn’t ancient history.  I know there are many tender, hurting souls all around us who have only ever been told they are nobodies.  There are many people—too many people—who are longing to hear, aching to hear that they are loved.  They have never dreamed that the voice of God could say to them, “You are my son.  You are my daughter.  You are my beloved ones.  And with you, I am well-pleased.” 

Christians, I do believe God has work for us to do.  I’ll see you Sunday.

Jennie

Worship at 8:15 and 10:30 a.m.
On-site at 302 South Main Street       Eureka, Illinois
Online at eurekachristian.org/worship-online or facebook.com/eurekacc/live