1 Peter 2:10

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. - 1 Peter 2:10

Dear Jesus, 

I am tempted to look at my church family in a lot of different ways.  But here you give us our simple and most valuable identity.  We are the people who have received mercy.  Your mercy and the faith we have in your mercy defines us as a select group and establishes our "secret" handshake.  We are forgiven and we forgive each other. We come from all walks of life, but now we all walk in grace as one fellowship, one church, one family.  Give everyone in my local church family a deep appreciation of your mercy and the price you paid to give it.  Help us get along in grace and to get outside ourselves to share that grace with many more new people. AMEN

Pastor Don Patterson 

God decided to call people together in groups and to help them get along in life by the strength of the group.  To leave the herd is to fight against your Maker.