In The Lord of the Rings there is a character named Gollum. He becomes obsessed with possessing a ring of great power. Gollum even kills to get it.

Over time, he becomes infatuated with the ring, even calling it “my precious.” He has lost all perspective, and it distracts him from other things. He hates himself for who he has become. But at the same time can’t help himself. He is devoted to his “precious.”

What is YOUR ring? What is so precious to you that it draws you away from your true and higher calling as a disciple?

The apostle Peter gives God’s people a powerful reminder about who they are and what they are called to: “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).

That, my friends, is a high and holy calling. Pursuing that is better than pursuing worldly success, popularity, the comfort zone or the kingdom of your own ego.

Walking in the footsteps of Jesus is liberating because it guides you away from a life of lesser enslavements. 

Peter says, “you are a chosen people… that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

May the things we treat as precious be the things that truly are.

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—MEDIA DISCERNMENT. I was so glad to interview Adam Holz, director at Plugged In, Focus on the Family’s entertainment and technology review website which is visited monthly 1 million times. Our talk is called “What is media discernment?” The task has never been so pressing, but many don’t know what it is. Adam gives us some clarity. You can listen here, or wherever you subscribe to podcasts.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.