God's Australia

Sunday, October 31, 2021

In 1788, the British founded a penal colony in New South Wales, Australia. They shipped their criminals and outlaws there. But in time, the criminals and outlaws formed a society. The prison colony became a nation. Today Australia is one of the world's most respected nations with a sophisticated culture, government, and democracy. In many ways, that's like us. I Peter 2:9-10 says, "But you are... a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession...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." We all started out in some way as spiritual outlaws - sinners. And yet we were taken in, placed in God's kingdom, and chosen to be His priests. Out of the brokenness of our lives comes a glorious, shining, royal priesthood for the living God. Your very existence is now a witness to God's glory. So make it count. Let men see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. For once, you were a child of wrath, but now you are God's Australia.

From Message #1367 - Becoming a Royal Priest