Live as People Who Belong to God

1 So get rid of every kind of evil, every kind of deception, hypocrisy, jealousy, and every kind of slander. ² Desire God’s pure word as newborn babies desire milk. Then you will grow in your salvation. ³ Certainly you have tasted that the Lord is good!

⁴ You are coming to Christ, the living stone who was rejected by humans but was chosen as precious by God.⁵ You come to him as living stones, a spiritual house that is being built into a holy priesthood. So offer spiritual sacrifices that God accepts through Jesus Christ. ⁶ That is why Scripture says,

“I am laying a chosen and precious cornerstone in Zion,
    and the person who believes in him
        will never be ashamed.”

⁷ This honor belongs to those who believe. But to those who don’t believe:

“The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone,
⁸         a stone that people trip over,
            a large rock that people find offensive.”

The people tripped over the word because they refused to believe it. Therefore, this is how they ended up.

⁹ However, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God. You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰ Once you were not God’s people, but now you are. Once you were not shown mercy, but now you have been shown mercy.

¹¹ Dear friends, since you are foreigners and temporary residents in the world, I’m encouraging you to keep away from the desires of your corrupt nature. These desires constantly attack you. ¹² Live decent lives among unbelievers. Then, although they ridicule you as if you were doing wrong while they are watching you do good things, they will praise God on the day he comes to help you. 
-- 1 Peter 2 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Grateful

Passion 2013 -- Day #3 Report

Worship leader, David Crowder, sporting a full, Duck Dynasty-style, red beard opened the day pointing us the Throne of God. After leading in his original songs like "Praise Him" and "O How He Loves Us", David led us in a Hallelujah hoe-down with old tunes like "I Saw The Light", "I'll Fly Away", and "Because He Lives!" It was a prelude to Heavenly worship, no doubt.

Judah Smith from Oregon then came and gave us God's Word from 1 Peter 2, declaring the value and validity of the church community, saying "Without the church on planet earth, the planet will not see God's image!" He also said, "We were not created to live isolated."

The afternoon session was a round-table discussion about ending slavery in our world. The goal is to raise $3 million to help this happen before the Passion Gathering ends tomorrow at 2 p.m. We had surpassed $1.5 million mark at midday today. Go to www.live.268generation.com to watch sessions from Passion 2013 and/or to join in on the offering.

The evening session was high energy with Christian rapper, LeCrae, firing up the Georgia Dome. His song "Background" is a favorite of mine. Here's a LeCrae link to listen to if you'd like some idea of his music ministry that is very popular with the young at heart:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHnZRZiCYHE

Finally, John Piper spoke the evening message saying "as believers we should not only endure temporary suffering but embrace it, realizing the eternal JOY that awaits those who suffer with and for the Lord."

Thanks for your prayers for Passion 2013. I truly believe the Lord is up to something wonderful among this young, JESUS generation. Over 2,000 colleges and universities, from 54 countries are represented at this year's gathering here in Atlanta. A God-thing, indeed!

Deo Volente -- Whatever God Wants!
Grateful