lesson three APRIL 8 14 A Royal Priesthood You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:9, NKJV).
2 Cor. 5:20 Introduction sabbath APRIL 8 How Is It Working for the Royal Household? Have you ever thought of what it is like working for the royal household in the British monarchy? The primary duties of the royal household are to provide advice and assistance to the queen to enable her to offer the best service to the nation and its people. The royal household employs nearly 1,200 staff selected from various professions with a wide range of skills. Some are marketers, some gardeners, and others culinary artists. There are secretaries, physicians, and more. Christians also have a duty to perform as members of the royal priesthood. The employees of the royal household are expected to appreciate the importance and value of social and environmental issues. The queen and members of the royal family contribute a lot to the community. By the same token, the employees are encouraged to emulate the royal example and cultivate action and responsibility in community development. Christians also have a duty to perform as members of the royal priesthood. Christian living is about letting your light shine in the dark world and illuminating lives and communities that have not accepted Christ as Savior. The Bible explains that we are ambassadors of Christ, and everything we do must conform to the principles of God s covenant. By accepting to be assimilated into the family of Christ through baptism, we become dead to sin and embrace a new life as members of God s household (Rom. 6:1 4). As a member of the royal household adopts the policies, strategies, and instructions for service in the queen s territory, so Christians are to adopt kingdom principles to become representatives of Christ on earth. Our morals, diet, and overall lifestyle must be a reflection of what Christ would do in our situation. Think of yourself as a member of the royal priesthood, the chosen people who, through their standard of living, must reveal Christ to the world. This week we study about how we can live as a chosen generation and God s own people (1 Pet. 2:9). In the following days, we shall discover how we can execute our responsibility and high calling to be members of the royal household of Christ. Regardless of where we come from, our skin color, or our gender, we are all members of the royal priesthood through Christ. We may not belong to the ancient tribe of Israel; but through the saving grace of Christ, we now belong to the family. We must therefore share in His promises and advance the cause of heaven even as we wait for His second coming. Eric Onyango, Nairobi, Kenya 29
sunday APRIL 9 Logos Steps to Christian Living Gen. 15:18 21; 17:1 27; Exod. 2:24; 19:3 6; Deut. 4:6; 26:18, 19; Ps. 118:22; Heb. 4:12; 1 Pet. 2:5 10 God s Word Is the Basis of Christian Living (Heb. 4:12) As Christians, we depend on the Scriptures to reveal to us God s will for our lives, and our duty is to embrace it. Embracing God s will is an act of faith, our inner resolve to accommodate whatever God speaks into our lives. The Word of God is a potent instrument in the life of any Christian who wants to live a transformed life. A hundred-dollar bill does not lose its value even if it looks old, tattered, and dusty. Surrender to the Living Stone (Ps. 118:22) The wise man who wrote the book of Proverbs said, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 9:10, NIV). There is no way we can make our lives into masterpieces if we do not surrender to the Author of life. We can acquire wisdom only if we understand the nature of God and ask Him to show us the right way. God is the source of wisdom that we need to live as a chosen generation. The Stone appears in the Old Testament to show that God s chosen people had to depend on Him to maintain their relationship with Him. As present-day Christians, we have to rely on the same Living Stone to maintain a close relationship with God. That Living Stone is Jesus Christ. Once we surrender our lives to the Living Stone to have full control, we can ask for wisdom to make wise decisions regarding family, career, marriage, or finances. We Belong to God s Covenant People (Gen. 15:18 21; 17:1 27) The covenant between God and His chosen people dates back to the time of the patriarchs. The covenant started with Abraham and extended to Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. It was a seal between God and His people, which they were to uphold for generations. It guided their lifestyle, distinguishing them from the rest of the people. To Abraham, God said, Walk before Me and be blameless (Gen. 17:1, NKJV). In the Old Testament, the covenant was confirmed by the blood of sacrifices and offerings (Exod. 24:8). In the New Testament, the covenant was confirmed by the blood of Christ. Jesus mentioned the blood of the covenant during the Last Supper, referring to it as My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins (Matt. 26:28, NKJV). 30
Therefore, it implied that the blood of Christ saved us once we accepted Him, regardless of our origin. In Him, both the Gentiles and the Jews had equal chance of becoming members of His chosen generation. A Royal Priesthood (Exod. 19:3 6; 1 Pet. 2:5 10) Upon their deliverance from Egypt, the people of Israel were reminded by God, through Moses, what they had to do. God wanted the people of Israel to reconcile with Him, to obey His voice, and to keep the covenant (Exod. 19:5). In other words, the covenant was the binding constitution between God and His chosen nation. Because of the covenant, the people of Israel knew exactly what God required of them. When Christ came, He fulfilled the reconciliation process that began at Mount Sinai. Whoever accepts Christ and believes in Him becomes a member of the royal priesthood. His blood, shed at Calvary, is the new covenant that binds Christians with heaven (1 Cor. 11:25). Obedience to the Covenant (Deut. 4:6; 26:18, 19) God chose the nation of Israel to be His treasured possession. In return, God commanded utmost obedience. They were to obey the commandments and uphold them to future generations. If they could remain pure in the eyes of God, other nations would be attracted to their lifestyle and embrace the true God. By following God s commands, they would be a light to the nations around them. God would hold them high above all other nations. They would proclaim praises to Him, and their name would be great. Our title as a chosen people comes with a duty to perform our part. God is able to give us the highest honor and the greatest name. However, He calls on us to arise and shine so that others can see Him in us. By accepting Christ as our Savior, we confirm that we will walk with God, follow His precepts, and proclaim praises of the Most High. Our Value in God s Sight (1 Pet. 2:9, 10) A hundred-dollar bill does not lose its value even if it looks old, tattered, and dusty. For Christians, the world may view us as of less value, but our value in the sight of God remains constant. Peter urges his readers that they are precious in God s sight, and no matter their previous lifestyles, they have acquired membership in the royal priesthood. Whether you had the darkest past or you are facing turmoil because of your faith, accepting Christ makes you His treasured possession. 1. How does Christ fulfill and complete the covenant that God started with the people of Israel? 2. What happened to the people of Israel when they disobeyed God s commandments? What can happen to us if we do the same? 3. What is the reward of being a chosen generation? Tony Philip Oreso, Nairobi, Kenya 31
monday APRIL 10 Testimony Can We Recognize the Living Stone? 1 Pet. 2:4 8 For more than a thousand years the Jewish people had awaited the Saviour s coming. Upon this event they had rested their brightest hopes. In song and prophecy, in temple rite and household prayer, they had enshrined His name.... Yet God had chosen Israel. He had called them to preserve among men the knowledge of His law, and of the symbols and prophesies that pointed to the Saviour. He desired them to be as wells of salvation to the world. What Abraham was in the land of his sojourn, what Joseph was in Egypt, and Daniel in the courts of Babylon, the Hebrew people were to be among the nations. 1 Had Israel been true to God, He could have accomplished His purpose. The Israelites fixed their hopes upon worldly greatness. From the time of their entrance to the land of Canaan, they departed from the commandments of God, and followed the ways of the heathen. It was in vain that God sent them warning by His prophets. In vain they suffered the chastisement of heathen oppression. Every reformation was followed by deeper apostasy. Had Israel been true to God, He could have accomplished His purpose through their honor and exaltation. If they had walked in the ways of obedience, He would have made them high above all nations which He hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honor. 2 As we are part of the lineage of the chosen nation, it is important that we make a paradigm shift, withdrawing our focus from worldly greatness and focusing on Christ, our Savior and the Living Stone. Unlike the Israelites, who departed from God s commandments as soon as they entered Canaan, we are to make Christ the centerpiece of our lives. 1. Ancient Israel rejected Christ at His coming. How do we reject or fail to recognize Christ in our time? 2. What can the church do to continue revealing God to humanity? 1. Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 27. 2. Ibid., p. 28. 32 Patrick Kasavuli, Nairobi, Kenya
2 Tim. 3:15 17 Evidence tuesday APRIL 11 Chosen at a Young Age In his address to Timothy, Paul expounded on the noble character that the young man had acquired from childhood. Timothy received proper training from the Scriptures at a young age from his mother and grandmother. However, when Paul visited them to share the good news of salvation, the deep knowledge behind their plain faces was confirmed. The gospel of Christ that Paul preached to them simply added to what they already knew, and they all accepted Christ as their personal Savior. Knowing God s Word alone does not qualify one for salvation. Timothy s noble character, acquired from a knowledge of the Scriptures, models what young adults should do today. First, we learn about the powerful role that parents and guardians play in the lives of young people under their care. In addition, the character of Timothy teaches us how receptive we should be to the Word of God, even at a young age. Our studies, professions, and work should not override our need for adequate spiritual nourishment. Paul teaches Timothy that knowing God s Word alone does not qualify one for salvation. There is a difference between knowing about God and applying what God wants in your life. As the Scriptures tell us, they are stepping-stones to know the Savior (James 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23 25). The Word of God initiates Christians into salvation; then, it continues as a medium to shape their spiritual growth. Our goal, as members of the royal priesthood, is to acquire perfection in Christ. The word perfect, which Paul uses in 2 Timothy 3:17 (KJV), refers to something new, fresh, or complete. Every chosen child of God has a right to become perfect, even as the law of God is perfect and immutable (Matt. 4:4; 24:35). The main task that we need to do now as a chosen generation of God is to delve into the Scriptures and apply them in every facet of our lives. The challenges we encounter as young people, whether in the fields of finances, relationships, or the job market, can be reduced to a bare minimum because the Bible has a way of addressing each difficulty we face. As Paul points out, we need nothing more or less than God s Word to equip us with what it takes to remain a chosen generation. 1. What are some of the practices we must depart from in order to remain a chosen generation? 2. How does Scripture help us today to become perfect in Christ? Lavender Onyango, Homa Bay, Kenya 33
wednesday APRIL 12 How-to Christian Living Checklist 1 Pet. 2:1 3 Spiritual growth requires adequate spiritual exercise and proper diet, similar to the requirements for physical growth. In 1 Peter 2:1 3, Peter talks of Christians need for proper exercise and diet, so they can grow spiritually. Imagine these scenarios: 1. A person eats a bad diet, spends all day at a fast-food restaurant, and does not exercise. In the end, obesity sets in, and the person cannot even move. Spiritually, this would be reflected in feeding the mind outside the framework of God s guidelines until a person is completely engulfed in sin. 2. A person feeds on a good diet but does not exercise. In a spiritual sense, this is equal to lying on the couch reading your Bible without putting anything into practice. 3. In this scenario, a person works the entire day. In the spiritual sense, this translates into spending loads of time in church, serving different Christian ministries. However, the person has no nourishment because he or she spends no time with God to feed on His Word. The three scenarios must ring a bell in our minds. As Christians, we have been called to perform a spiritual exercise. To begin with, we are called to love one another (1 Pet. 1:22). In this regard, we must purify our souls to obey the truth through the Spirit and love one another with a pure heart. Second, we are called to exercise spiritual worship and to proclaim the testimony of Christ (verses 5, 9). These activities require a lot of spiritual muscle and strength. In order to maintain Christian living, we need to have a checklist with priorities. Plan. Know the goals and objectives you want to achieve as a Christian. The Bible encourages us: May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed (Ps. 20:4, NIV). Set right priorities. With the right plan to execute, you can set your priorities to ensure that you achieve your objectives as a Christian. Ask God to grant you the Holy Spirit to reveal what is most important for you to accomplish as a Christian in this time. Commit time and energy to your plans. Committing time and energy will ensure that you stick to your plans and seek guidance from God to lead you to the end. What else can you add to the checklist for Christian living? Fred Musyoka, Kitui, Kenya 34 We are called to exercise spiritual worship.
1 Pet. 2:9, 10 Opinion thursday APRIL 13 Why We Are Blessed as Believers If someone ever asked you what the difference between believers and nonbelievers is, you could give the answer that Peter explains in the following passage: 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. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy (1 Pet. 2:9, 10, NIV). In this message, Peter enumerates some of the blessings and privileges that separate believers from the rest of the world. Some of the privileges we as believers have today are similar to what the people of Israel enjoyed, while some are different. A true believer is an alien to the lifestyles of the world. However, Peter points his readers to the privileges and blessings that they have received as a chosen people, which eventually separate them from the rest of the world. As believers, we are supposed to know how precious and special we are in the eyes of God. Even as we face challenges, persecution, and suffering in this world, we remain in the center of God s will. We have a call to show to the world the love of Christ. Peter writes to the saints to encourage them to focus on their special obligation as Christians. Our role as Christians today is no different. We may or may not experience suffering and persecution, but the world still views us differently. A true believer is an alien to the lifestyles of the world. Peter refers to believers as a chosen people, in line with what the Bible says about ancient Israel (Deut. 7:6). The church of believers is now God s chosen people. This does not mean we are better than others, but we have His saving grace. We receive that unmerited favor through Christ s death. God has chosen us to receive salvation through Christ, so we can live with Him and enjoy His presence forever. 1. What assurance do we have as a chosen people in this generation? 2. How can we resist the world and retain our purity as a chosen people? Ann Akoth, Rongai, Nairobi, Kenya 35
friday APRIL 14 Exploration Be a Priest 1 Pet. 2:5 10 CONCLUDE Following Jesus is a privileged position and a high calling. In responding to the invitation to follow Him, we step into a different reality and a new and rewarding way of living. Not that everything goes smoothly, but we become part of the household of God and have direct access to the Creator and Ruler of the universe. But this is not for only our benefit or holiness. We became representatives of God s family, God s kingdom, to those around us, as agents of the love, hope, and reconciliation He offers to all people. CONSIDER Researching the household of the leader of your nation or some other significant household, such as the White House, Buckingham Palace, or something similar (see Sabbath s lesson, for example). What is special about the house the leader lives in? Thinking back to the stories of Joseph (Gen. 41:37 57), Daniel (Daniel 1 6), or Esther (Esther 4 9). Imagine what it might mean for you to be involved in your nation s government, like these Bible heroes, at the same time as you are seeking to stay true to God. Make a list of what achievements and difficulties you might face in such a role. Thinking of someone who has demonstrated the reality and love of God to you, perhaps a parent, a mentor, a teacher, a pastor, or a youth leader. Write the person either a letter of thanks, or talk with him or her about this person s contribution to your life and faith. Making a list of the people you have influence with or over, including friends, younger relatives, or younger church people. Think about how you could be more intentional in representing God to them. Finding some safe space that is completely dark, and spending a few minutes sitting quietly in the darkness. Reflect on the experience and what it means to be light in the darkness. Then safely light a candle or turn on a small flashlight, and observe the difference. Ask God to help you be a light where you are. CONNECT Exodus 19; Leviticus 9. Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, chap. 51, A Faithful Undershepherd ; The Upward Look, chap. 117, God Has His Chosen People ; A Call to Stand Apart, chap. 16, Careers. Reinder Bruinsma, The Body of Christ (Review and Herald, 2010), chap. 4, Biblical Foundations: Themes and Metaphors. Nathan Brown, Melbourne, Australia 36