Princehood
“Ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”(1 Peter 2:3)
Have you ever thought about where you are in life right now and the goodness of the Lord to lead you this far? Has your head ever bowed in reverence as you understood your complete unworthiness to be here? Has your heart ever overflowed with praise straight to your Creator for His sacrifice, His mercy in bringing you in to His presence through the utmost sacrifice of cruel death?
“Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praise of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
Jesus could have left me outside His door. I was but a tramp, the filthiness of the streets of the world soiling clothing that once was clean and innocent. As I laid on His doorstep, begging for a just a morsel of mercy, He could have turned me away without even looking. He chose to look. He could have seen my wretchedness, the oozing sores of pride, the dirty skin of idolatry, the scrawny, grasping hands of selfishness, and turned away in disgust and utter hatred that such an abomination could even come to His doorstep, the manifestation of perfection. He chose to come down the steps, stoop low, and lift my chin so I could meet His eyes. He chose to look into my very heart and see the desperate yearning there. He chose to carry me inside and feed me blessed food. There was great risk in His actions, for I could spoil His kingdom a thousand times over. I could ruin His great name. He knew of this risk and He knew it would be played out to the utmost, and yet He brought me into His beautiful presence. As I regained my strength, I not only had a full stomach, but also had a deeper strength, a fulness of Him inside.
When I was strong again, He broke all laws of royalty and pronounced me a prince. That day the court rejoiced. Heavenly light filled the palace, heavenly light filled my heart. From a mere pauper to a prince; He really has called me from darkness into His marvelous light.
And so today, I am still the heir of the greatest King that will ever be. I was not schooled, not reformed to be His son, a prince expected to carry His name. And shameful though it is, I sometimes take my own path, thinking I am great, and find myself in that old life again. Many times I have found myself once again prostrate at His palace door, begging for mercy. He always opens the door, lifts my face, and carries me back inside. He always gives me a new robe, a new room, and a new chance.
No, there is not a wit of glory that can come back to me for this life I have, for how far I have come. I was but a pauper, a begger for mercy; He has made me a prince, an heir of his Kingdom.
“[We were] in time past not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained merch, but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Peter 2:10)