A beautiful melody

. . . that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.   —  1 Peter 2:9

In the spring of 2009, Susan Boyle took the stage of Britain’s Got Talent. Compared to the other contestants, she was plain-looking. No one expected much when she raised the microphone to her lips. But then she began to sing. Spellbound, the judges were clearly taken with the beauty and power of the voice that filled the auditorium as the audience stood to their feet cheering with delight. All were surprised that such a rivetingly beautiful song came from such an unlikely source.

All of us can be unlikely sources when it comes to the beauty of Jesus flowing out of us. But that is how He planned it. Common folk like you and me take turns on the stage of life in front of the world’s skeptical audience so that our friends, family, and all who fill the arena of our lives will see and hear the love and grace of Jesus Christ emerging from our lives.

I love Peter’s reminder that we are “a people for His own possession, that [we] may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9 ESV). You might think you’re an unlikely source but when you allow the Lord to flow through you, the watching world will stand up and take notice. — Joe Stowell

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me —

All His wonderful passion and purity!

O Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine,

Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.— Orsborn

READ 1 Peter 2:9-12

The beauty of Jesus may come

from the most unlikely sources.

The Bible in one year

• Nehemiah 1-3

• Acts 2:1-21