July 17, 2011

Do You See What God Sees?

1 Peter 2:4-10

You are a chosen people … that you may declare the praises of him who called you … into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9

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Today many of us are going to worship God. I hope you will!

You might see old friends, new friends, people you can relate to, and people you can’t. You might rub elbows with the guy who botched the solo in the worship service last week or the woman who is your eleventh grader’s “boring” church school teacher. You’ll listen to the preacher who might again lurch toward his favorite issue rather than stick to the text.

After the worship service you may run into the person who is too intense about political issues, or the one who loves talking about all her bodily ailments, or the one who is always trying to pull you into his latest “project.”

That may be what you see. But do you see what God sees? God sees all these people along with all the other broken, struggling, less than “perfect” attenders in your congregation as his chosen people, his royal priesthood, his holy nation.

God also sees you! He paid a very high price to redeem each of you, and you all belong to him.

Today those who worship with you are hand-picked by God for the holy work of declaring his praises. They will take up their places in today’s cosmic choir—alongside you and the rest of creation.

Cherish them. God does!

Open our eyes, Lord, to see you in the people with whom we will worship today. We want to see your holy nation, the community you’ve gathered by your great mercy. Amen.

About the author — David Den Haan

Pastor Dave Den Haan has served at Fairway Christian Reformed Church in Jenison, Michigan, since 1999. Previously he served a church in Minnesota. Dave and his wife, Connie, have three children.

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