“Our Country Needs You!”

“Our Country Needs You!”1 Peter 2:9a NLT9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen person. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.1. Be a SIGN1 Peter 2:9b-10 NLT9 … As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 “Once you had no identity as a people;   now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”Hosea 6:1 NLT1 “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; He has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.”Hosea 14:1 NIV1 Return, Israel, to the Lord your God. Your sins have been your downfall!2. Be a SYMBOLHosea 1:2-3 NLT2 When the Lord first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, “Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the Lord and worshiping other gods.” 3 So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she became pregnant and gave Hosea a son.1 Peter 2:11-14a NLT11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. 13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed.2 John 1:6 NIV6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.3. Be a SERVANTMatthew 20:28 NIV28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."1 Peter 2:15-17 ESV15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.