We are God's Possession
February 24, 2008
We are God’s Possession
I Peter 2:9
Proposition: As God’s possessions we exist for His purposes.
Application: God is calling to live holy lives that reflect God’s mercy to others.
Fred Craddock tells the story of a family that is out for a drive on a Sunday afternoon. It is a pleasant afternoon, and they relax at a leisurely pace down the highway. Suddenly, the two children begin to beat their father in the back: “Daddy, Daddy stop the car! There’s a kitten back there on the side of the road.”
The father says, “So there’s a kitten on the side of the road. We’re having a drive.”
“But Daddy you must stop and pick it up.”
“I don’t have to stop and pick it up.”
“But Daddy, if you don’t, it will die.”
“Well then it will have to die. We don’t have room for another animal. We have a zoo already at the house. No more animals.”
“But Daddy, are you going to just let it die?”
“Be quiet children, we’re trying to have a pleasant drive.”
“We never thought our Daddy would be so mean and cruel as to let a kitten die.”
Finally the mother turns to the husband and says, “Dear you’ll have to stop.” He turns the car around, returns to the spot and pulls of to the side of the road. “You kids stay in the car, I’ll see about it. He goes out of to pick up the little kitten, who is just skin and bones, sore eyed and full of fleas. When he reaches down to pick it up, with its last bit of energy the kitten bristles, baring tooth and claw. Hiss! He picks up the kitten by the loose skin at the neck, brings it over to the car, and says “Don’t touch it. It’s probably got leprosy.”
Back home they go. When they get to the house the children give the kitten several baths, about a gallon of warm milk and ask, “Can we let it stay in the house just tonight? Tomorrow will fix it a place in the garage.”
The father says, “Sure, take my bedroom, the whole house is already a zoo.” They fix a comfortable bed fit for a pharaoh.
Let’s Pause – How many of you side with the kids? With the Father?
Barnabas, Woody/Buzz – You’re in Andy’s Room
1. Possess by creation – Genesis 1:26
2. Possess by Rule – Ps 24:1
3. Possess by redemption - I Peter 1:18ff
Remember our kitten? Craddock concludes the story, Several weeks pass. Then one day the father walks in, feels something rub against his leg, looks down and there is a cat. He reaches down carefully checking to see that no one is watching. When the cat sees the hand, it does not bare it claws and hiss; instead it arches his back to receive a caress. Is that the same cat? It couldn’t be the same cat. It’s not the same as the frightened, hurt, hissing kitten on the side of the road. Of course not and you know as well as I what makes the difference.
Not too long ago God reached out a hand to bless us and our families. When God did, we saw a the hand , it was covered in scratches. Such is the hand of love, extended to those who are hurting.