“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9
My oldest son Reagan recently had an assignment about ancestry. Knowing I already had an account with an online genealogical website, I reopened my account to see if I had anything that might be useful to him. Since my new subscription was free for 14 days, I decided to join my son in researching my family’s history to see how far back I could go.
I couldn’t trace my roots all the way back to Noah, but I did go pretty far. What was fun was seeing where great, great, great grandfathers served in the different wars. In the south, we have deep roots and that was also verified having ancestors on both sides who lived in the new land before it was ever the United States.
I started thinking about these people and what their lives might have been like. Why did they leave their home countries and move half-way around the world, some of them leaving all their worldly possessions and relatives behind?
The more I dug (or clicked) the more interesting things became. Since my mom comes from the Nobles family, I thought it would be neat to trace that line back as far as I could. Once I got to the “nobility” where people had royal titles my quest became easier as there are numerous records kept of the nobles in England.
If my research is correct, King John of England is my 26th great grandfather (and probably half of yours, too). I think that would make me officially Her Royal Highness, Princess Paula of Brentwoodia. However, my son burst my bubble when he told me that King John was not a very nice person.
All kidding aside, my official title, according to the apostle Peter is Her Royal Heiress, Princess Paula, daughter of the King of All-the-world. I don’t have to dig around on the Internet to know my heritage here. God’s word tells me that I come from a chosen people, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation.
My Heavenly Father, the King above all Kings, is and has always been good, loving, and kind. He is slow to anger and abounding in love. I am honored to be called His daughter. God’s Holy Spirit testifies with my spirit that I am truly His child, nobility of an order outside of any kingdom this world has known. The Bible tells me that as God’s child, I am also His heir and a co-heir with Christ. Because of the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, I have deep roots in the heavenly Promised Land. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. Worldly possessions don’t compare with what’s in store for me in heaven one day.
Ponder this sweet Princess (or Prince) as you start this week; you, too, as one who has trusted Jesus as your savior and Lord, are also a child of the King of Kings. I pray that your heart would be flooded with light, that you may know the unshakable hope for which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints. Ephesians 1:18.
His servant and yours,
Paula