In order that...

I Peter 2:9-10

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people,
in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts
of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Once you were not a people,
but now you are God’s people;
once you had not received mercy,
but now you have received mercy.

O Choosing One,
the stories of your choosing are surprising:
you choose:

Abraham and Sarah way too old
to give birth to your child of promise & laughter, Isaac
Moses, a fugitive with a fear of public speaking
to set your people free from Pharaoh & slavery
Ruth, a foreigner, an outsider, and yet
a model of committed faithfulness
Mary, an unwed young woman
to give birth and mother the Son of God
Saul, an educated pharasee and killer of people of The Way
to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to gentiles and all who would listen

and you choose me
with my weaknesses, sins, fears, needs...
to proclaim your mighty acts -- your love for the WHOLE world.

But that makes sense
because if you can use them,
if you can use me,
then YOUR love and grace can be trusted.

For once I was a nobody,
now I am a Child of God;
once I had not received mercy,
but now I have been given mercy to share with others!

O Choosing One,
today I choose to live up to who you call me to be:
one among the chosen,
one among the royal,
one among the priesthood of all believers,
one among the Kingdom of God
one among God's own people.
I am a Child of God!
And I will live that way.

Amen.