Bore

I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself," Exodus 19:4.

That's what God said to Israel after he freed them from slavery. Then he said that if they really listened to him in his covenant he'd make these things real, too: They'd be God's favorite treasure. They'd be a kingdom of priests. They'd be a holy nation. The people answered, Sure! Then they hand-built a golden cow and worshiped it. So what's God to do with a bunch of thankless rebels? This: he sent Jesus to die for us, a bunch of merciless nobodies, so as to make of us a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his personal possession. So that we'd shout out his excellencies.

We meet with a brother or sister today and speak of God's unmatched goodness and mercy. And, together, we offer thanks to Jesus whose body and blood joined us into communion with God.