Some days we need to be reminded of who we are as Christians. In fact much pain in the world is exactly that: who am I? In our lifetime we have begun to use words to describe people in ways our previous generation never envisaged: ‘them’; ‘non-binary’; asking the question who am I has never been more important.
Coming aside from gender identity and the changing of our bodies to fit who we think we really are: what does God think of you today? Who does God say you are beyond your identity because whatever we change about our bodies our soul is the same. Only God can do surgery on our soul.
Drawing from what God said to the Israelites at Mount Sinai, from the prophet Isaiah and also the story of Gomer found in the prophet Hosea.
Basically Peter says this, ‘No matter what is going on for you, no matter how difficult your life is right now, all of what God said to His people back then is true for you who believe and follow Jesus.’ Isn’t that amazing?!
“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. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2 v 9-10)
So let’s unpack that a bit with encouragement for you:
- He hasn’t made a mistake with your life. You are a chosen people.
- He has called you to reign with Him as the King. You are a royal priesthood.
- He has set you aside to think, speak and act differently to the world you live in. A holy nation.
- You belong … to Him! God’s special possession.
- You are called … to Him! Called out of darkness into his wonderful light.
- You have an identity … in Him! People of God.
- You have mercy for your undeserved restoration and transformation. Have received mercy.
Missions Paul 