so, I found my theme verse for this trip.
We were talking about it at college group on Sunday and it was just there, the perfect illustration of what my goal for the trip is, and it may not seem like a very "missional" verse so bear with me for a second.
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light"
1 Peter 2:9
Isn't that the coolest verse?!?!
We are a CHOSEN people. God CHOSE us. He set us apart for Himself. A people BELONGING to GOD. The creator of the Universe, who made vast infinite galaxies and thought up tiny molecular elements, we belong to Him! He accepts us!
It also says we are a royal priesthood. Priests in the old testament had a very specific purpose, they were the only ones allowed to go into the Holy of Holies and make the sacrifice for the sins of the people. They were the ones who got to be in God's presence and plead on behalf of the people. And Peter is calling US priests! WE are the ones who go to God pleading on behalf of the lost, we are intercessors. I think that's just the most beautiful picture of our job as Christians, because we often think if we have the right words to say or the best argument we can "win people over", when in reality it's God who saves, and it's just us on our knees pleading before God on others behalf.
He saves us so we can declare his praises, because we once were lost, and now we're found. What once was consumed in darkness, is now filled with wonderful light. And isn't that the whole point of missions? Telling people this awesome news?
So that's my verse. I put it on my blog and sign it next to my name on all my letters for the trip because it's my prayer. Every person I meet on the race I will bring boldly before my Father's throne in prayer, as a priest on their behalf, so they may step out of darkness to sing His praises and walk in His wonderful light.
