A few days ago, one of my children found several toads in the backyard. Bursting with excitement he rushed up calling for me to come quickly to see them. In 1 Peter, the apostle Peter, full of enthusiasm and excitement for a much greater reality, calls us to see what God has made us through Christ: “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession.” (1 Peter 1:9) His joy moves us beyond what God has done for us to God himself. The incredible goodness shown to us by God shows us the incredible goodness of God himself. And this, Peter tells us, is what God intends, bringing us back to himself, to joy in him and with him. This joy will propel us “to proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” calling others to come with us to him. (1:9)
[mashtweet tweet=”The incredible goodness shown to us by God shows us the incredible goodness of God himself.” text=”” username=”reformmalawi”]
This is our prayer for our churches and communities—whether in the United States, Canada, or Malawi. We know that as Christ is faithfully proclaimed, he calls sinners to himself, transforming them, and multiplying the proclamation of his blessed goodness—his excellencies. Our passion at MRN is to help equip men in ministry and training for ministry in Malawi with the biblical training and resources that would help them engage in the faithful, joy-filled proclamation of our God and Savior, leading to the multiplication of worshippers of him. Join us in praying for and supporting the spread of the proclamation of his excellencies!
Bill VanDoodewaard