God called Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), and Abraham listened. By God’s action, Abraham had Isaac, Isaac had Jacob, Jacob had 12 sons, and from those 12 sons came Israel. Through Israel God sent Jesus who, by God’s intent, brought a blessing to all humans. That was God’s intent from the call of Abraham (see Genesis 12:3b, 22:18, Acts 3:25, and Galatians 3:16).

God solved a problem: the problem was produced by human rebellion that perverted His good creation. Nothing is the same since that rebellion! We could not “fix” the results of human rebellion! The human inclination continually seems to be toward evil, not God’s purposes! Too often we exploit God’s goodness as we are motivated by greed and an insatiable appetite for pleasure. What was impossible for us to solve of ourselves, God, in His incredible love, solved for us with mercy shown in divine forgiveness.

For what purpose? Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the 12 sons, and Israel served God’s intent. Jesus served God’s purpose. So did the 12 apostles, Paul, John Mark, Timothy, Titus, Acquila and Priscilla, the early church, etc. What about you?

To be God’s people is bigger than a clique, a group, a society, or even a nation. To be God’s people means God is allowed to work through us to bless our relationships— family, friends, the unknowns we meet, jobs, neighbors, the church, society, the nation, and the world. Because of God working through us, all we touch is blessed because of our relationship with God. Our reason for existing: to proclaim His excellencies because He enlightens our lives. You are a Christian because you are dedicated to God working through Jesus Christ in your life. That good is produced by nothing else!

Nowhere should that be more obvious than when people blessed by divine mercy assemble to worship the patient God who gave us Jesus Christ. Do you exist to allow your life to proclaim His excellencies? Or, do you exist to attempt to use God? Can people see the benefit of belonging to God by observing your behavior and your worship? Is God’s goodness obvious in your life as you worship and as you interact?