“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light”. I Peter 2:9

I remember a cold November morning. The frigid air stung my nose and I saw my breath when I exhaled. I sat in a deer stand about twenty feet high on the side of an ash tree. As I watched a squirrel scratching in the leaves, I hoped a buck would make an appearance.

Suddenly, there was a whoosh of air as a large pair of wings flew within inches of my head. A huge owl startled me when he landed on a limb not ten feet away. We sat at eye level, but his back was to me. Then, as only an owl can do, he rotated his head until he looked straight into my eyes. For a long second, we stared at each other. We both blinked, then he said “Who” and flew away.

As I pondered his question I thought, “Who indeed?” Who am I that God would bless me the way He has? I was raised to love Jesus by parents who loved me. He has blessed me with a sweet wife, precious children, and the most wonderful grandchildren in the world. But the thing that amazes me the most is this, God gave His Son to die for me, so that I might have eternal life. Then surprisingly, as undeserving as I am, He called me to preach His gospel.

As I thought about these things, I was reminded of 1 Peter 2:9 and I knew if that owl would come back I would answer his question this way. I would say, I am of a chosen generation, I am of a royal priesthood, and I am one of God’s own special people. For this reason, I will proclaim the praises of Him who called me out of darkness into His marvelous light. Because that is who I am.

Douglas Huff

From Down Where The Pavement Ends