Sunday, May 10, 2026

Showing up for others can take many different forms. Maybe for you, it’s reaching out to someone who needs encouragement, or choosing to be present and attentive in a world that often feels distracted or overwhelmed by bad news. It’s easy to notice all the hardship, conflict, and uncertainty around us, but that’s also where you are needed most. 

If we’re not careful, we can forget that we are called to bring hope and kindness into those very places of uncertainty, letting God’s light shine through us.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 

As we look ahead this week, consider what it would take to intentionally be a light for others. Reach out, offer hope, and let your actions reflect God’s goodness. 

Because, before the world began, God chose you (Ephesians 1:4). He claimed you, redeemed you, and called you with a purpose through Jesus. This isn’t just a fleeting encouragement; it’s an eternal invitation. 

You are chosen and empowered.

And that truth doesn’t just change where you’re headed someday, it changes how you live today. When your identity is rooted in Christ, your worth isn’t fragile, your failures aren’t final, and your purpose helps others who need hope. 

You're not just called to find light - you're called to be the light. 

Discussion Questions: 
Ice Breaker: Have you ever believed something that felt true in the moment but later turned out not to be? 

How does understanding that we are chosen by God shape how we engage with people around us? 

Read Ephesians 1:1-14: What stands out about how God sees us from this passage? How does this passage describe both our present identity and our future? 

Do you tend to live more from your feelings or from what you know is true? Why? 

Reflect and Respond: How does knowing you have an eternal identity give you confidence to live differently? 

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminder in Scripture that I’m chosen. This truth helps me find stable footing in a world full of instability. Help me be the light that reflects this truth on others who are living without that security. I love you, I trust you, and I worship you. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:
Ephesians 1:5
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

This post was written by Lori Tuckerman, Director of Content at CedarCreek.