HiS pEoPlE

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God's] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9

What [other] one nation on earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be a people for Himself and to make for Himself a name? You have done great and terrible things for Yourself and for Your land, before Your people, whom You redeemed and delivered for Yourself from Egypt, from the nations and their gods.

2 Samuel 7:23

As I read the two verses above this evening, I was gripped with such a feeling of awe and wonder. I am to God, today, every bit as chosen, redeemed, delievered, purchased, designed, dedicated and called as Israel was in the Old Covenant. The revelation however, wasn't just that.

The portion in the scritures above that stood out to me the most was this; God's 'awesomeness', magnificence, wonder, power and omnipotence are all set on display just for ME. God's got His best lined up just for me. Everything that He is and everything that He owns, He showcases for me to see, experience and indulge in.

Israel sat on the sidelines and watched the magnificent displays of God's power and majesty. The best they were given were courtside seats. I'm called to play in the game. He doesn't just call me to watch behind the scenes, He's offering me a chance to be able to display the same magnificence, wonder, power and 'awesomeness' that He displays.

I am to God, today, so much more than Israel could be to God in the Old Covenant. I can display the virtues and perfections of him who called me because I am who He made me to be. I am HiS pEoPlE

HiS pErSoN,

BeN

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ThE aPpLe Of HiS eYe

He found him in a desert land,

And in the howling waste of a wilderness;

He encircled him, He cared for him,

He guarded him as ThE aPpLe Of HiS eYe.

Deuteronomy 32:10

Just today as I was pondering over the flow of the next chapter of one of my books, the Holy Spirit, very gently, as He always does, dropped this phrase in my heart; 'ThE aPpLe Of HiS eYe'.

The phrase apple of the eye refers to the pupils of one's eye. It was first used in early english literature to symbolize something that was of great importance, something that was the center of attention, something that was most important above all else. To be called the apple of one's eye, was to be called one's muse, one's inspiration, one's motivation and drive.

Deuteronomy 32:10 speaks of God's perception of Jacob. While he was in the wilderness, exiled, cast out, alone, friendless, aimless and desperate, God found him. While he was reducing to nothing and everything around him was wasting away to utter ruin, God encircled him and cared for him. Years before He allowed God to make something of himself, while he was without accomplishment, acchievement and glory, God guarded him as ThE aPpLe Of HiS eYe.

As God's children, we are the apple of His eye. We are His inspiration, His motivation, and His drive. We are His all in all, His everything, His heart's one desire.

A man in love does crazy things for the one He loves. No price is too expensive, no distance too far, no mountain too high and no sea too deep. He will dare the impossible, defy the conventional and deny the logical in demonstration of his love for his beloved. Jesus is the ultimate expression of LoVe. If you don't know him, you don't know love. He did the impossible, the unconventional and the illogical so that we can indulge in His lavished best.

Let Him love on you today. Let Him show you that you are truly ThE aPpLe Of HiS eYe.

ThE aPpLe Of HiS eYe,

Ben

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MeRcY & gRaCe

God demonstrates MERCY when He doesn't give us the penalty we deserve for our sins. His heart is not aimed at pusnishing. He's looking to restore, reconcile and revive. His heart goes out to the lost, hurt, tormented and dying. Sin ravages every part of us that God had originally intended to use for His glory and purpose. Satan has been on his feet and working his best to dilute the urgency and importance of the demonstration of God's glory.
God loves us just as we are but He also loves us too much to leave us where we are (Max Lucado). Everytime we mess up, God's waits, on His toes, at the edge of His throne for us to but motion for aid. His ears are attentive to our cry. His heart, sensitive to the faintest whisper for help that escape our lips. God's mercies are new every morning. It extends past the borders of religion, rules, regulations, cultures, traditions, mindsets and the ways of men. His MERCY is made available for all those who desire it.
God demonstrates GRACE when He gives us the rewards we don't deserve. Jesus is the demonstrated GRACE of God. He took everything I deserved for my sin, so I can enjoy everything that He deserved. GRACE empowers, enables, equips and causes us to walk in His ways. We can because He can. It's all God! Our very existance is in His keeping. He sustains! He empowers! He makes straight. He first loved and still loves. He is faithful. He is good. We know how to live because He first demonstrated it all. We give because we have been given! We bless because we have been blessed. We love because we're loved. We can do for others what Christ first did for us. The GRACE of God is awesome and wonderful.


His banner over me is love,
Ben

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