Today's Scripture Reading (April 26, 2021): 1 Peter 2
I love sports. I am not, however,
very good at any of them. The reality is that I know what it is like to be
picked last or next to last. I have been too slow or clumsy to be of any real
value in any sporting contest for most of my life. And yet, I love to play. I
still remember the day that I discovered that I could throw an American football.
When I played the sport on an official basis, I played on the defensive line,
usually as a defensive end. I was really too slow for the position, but I tried
to think my way through what was happening, hopefully minimizing my
imperfections. But in a schoolyard pick-up game, we were taking turns playing at
quarterback, being the one who throws the football. It was my turn, and I
remember having a speedy kid on our team. He left the defenders in his dust.
But try as I might, I was unable to complete a pass to him. After about my
third attempt to hit him on a passing play, I apologized for my limitations,
taking the blame on myself. Another player was walking by me amid the apology
to my angry receiver and commented, "You hit him in the chest three times.
I really don't think the problem was with the throw." And he was partially
correct, although I felt that I needed to learn to feather the pass in rather
than drive it. But after that, I started to rely more on my arm and became a
little more valuable on the field, at least in the schoolyard game. But I was
still too slow for anything else. But I loved the game, and I refused to let my
inadequacies drive me away from it.
My experience in being picked last
is probably why, during my adult years, I began a tradition of dividing into
teams instead of picking. Suppose you try to just separate into two
approximately equal groups. In that case, no one has the privilege of being selected
first, or the embarrassment of being picked last, or even worse, not being
picked at all, just gifted to the other team because no one wants you.
Peter reminds his readers that
they are a chosen people. God saw value in them and picked them to be on his
team. Not picked last, because someone has to get stuck with us, but actively
chosen by God to be on his team, a part of his priesthood. We, as the disciples
of Jesus Christ, are not Americans or Canadians. We are not Irish, English, or
Ukrainian. We are Christians, the members of God's holy nation. And it is the
only time that we can all know that we were picked first.
So be proud to bear the name "Christian."
Reclaim the title from those who have sullied it with politics and hate.
Recognize that in wearing that simple title, that you are unique and one of God's
chosen. And as you bear the name, go to the rest whom God has chosen and show
the love to them that God has revealed to you. Go out and make a difference by
leading them from darkness to light.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 3
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