If anyone speaks, they should do it as someone who’s speaking God’s own words. If anyone serves, they should do it with the strength that God provides. That way God will be praised in all things through Jesus Christ. May he receive the glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.
You’re also like living stones. As you come to Christ, you’re being built into a house for worship. There you will be holy priests and offer spiritual sacrifices that God will accept because of what Jesus Christ has done.
But God chose you to be his own people, his royal priests, a holy nation, his special treasure. You’re all these things so that you can tell everyone how wonderful God is. He brought you out of darkness and into his marvelous light.
When the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus heard about this, they were all overcome with fear. It led them to hold the name of the Lord Jesus in high honor.
I keep asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you the wisdom and understanding that come from the Holy Spirit. That way you will get to know God better.