The People of God
Today’s Verse:
And they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. ~Revelation 21:3b
The Bible declares in Philippians 3:20 that we are citizens of Heaven. This citizenship is attained through the New Birth, when a sinner repents of his sin and, by faith, accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour. Citizenship has many privileges. One of these privileges is that we are the people of a heavenly country. Abraham looked for a country whose Builder and Maker is God. We are the people of Heaven. Even more so is the fact that we are the people of God.
We see a people who have been bought.
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). The payment price for sins is the shed blood of Jesus Christ. When He shed His blood, it provided the means for the washing away of our sins and bought us out of the slave market of sin. We have been bought with a price. We are the purchased possession of God. The word “redemption” powerfully describes how we have been bought and are under new ownership. God’s people are a purchased people.
We see a people who are to be busy.
“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14). The word “peculiar” means that God has placed a circle, or ring, around us that identifies that we are marked as His people. We are safe inside that ring. However, we are to be serving God zealously because we are in that ring. “Zealous” means burning red hot. God’s people are to be zealous of good works. We are to be busy doing things and making a difference for the Lord. We are to have a burning passion to do more and more for the Lord. God’s people are to be a busy people.
We see a people who are gifted with brawn.
“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31). God’s people are a powerful people. Our muscle and strength is not natural, but supernatural. Our power is the gift of the Holy Spirit. It comes from one means: a united church that prays. God blesses where a church assembles together for prayer and tarries until the fullness of the Holy Spirit is working in them. A powerful church preaches the gospel with boldness; it has a spirit of great giving and generosity; it takes a bold stand against sin; and it is positioned for more growth. A powerful church is a healthy church.
We see a people who are blessed.
Heaven is populated with the people of God—people who are forgiven, saved, and washed in the blood of Jesus. There is an exclusivity with the people of God. God is their Father. Heaven is their home. In Heaven, we will all be incorruptible and immortal. We will worship the Lord for all of eternity. Heaven is not only blessed, but it is also bliss. It is paradise. It is the city of God. It is where God, the Judge, and Jesus, our great Mediator are. It is where we will dwell forever and forever.
Be thankful today for the fact you are a people of God. Give glory to Him and shine brightly!
Have a thankful God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: 1 Corinthians 5-8