What we believe in our identity dictates how we navigate through life. Our identity is how we see ourselves to be. When we allow our identity to be based on the things of this world rather than anchoring our identity in Christ, we’re robbing ourselves of God’s best for us.
We can think of ourselves as a son or daughter, a spouse, a parent, a friend, and whatever we do for a living. Those are all parts of our identity. We can have certain personality traits, things that we’ve accomplished, and mistakes that we’ve made. While those things may be true, we can’t forget the most important part of our identity.
What Is Our Identity In Christ?
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 (NIV)
Our identity is outlined in this verse. When we forget who we are and WHOSE we are, we need to come and meditate on these words.
We Are Chosen
Rejection is a part of life. Whether that starts with our childhood when we weren’t picked to be on a team or when a parent leaves. We can hang on to the hurt until our adult years without ever facing the feeling of rejection. And it can get worse when a partner or spouse leaves. However, we need to be reminded that we are chosen by the King of kings, who calls us His own. To be chosen by the One that created the universe triumphs any rejection we may ever face!
We Are A Royal Priesthood
If you’re like me for the longest time, the meaning of a royal priesthood may not be one you fully understand. However, if we look back at the role of a priest from the Old Testament time, we will see that priests are the only ones that could come to the presence of God. If you remember Moses and Aaron and their journey back to the promised land, the Israelites kept rebelling against God. The priesthood was established through Aaron and his descendants so that they could come to God to represent the people.
Being a priest means being able to come to God directly. Jesus made the way so that we have the rights of the priests to come to the Father. And because we are given the birthright to become God’s children, we share in Christ’s royalty.
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - John 1:12 (NIV)
We Are A Holy Nation
The God we serve is holy and holiness is His standard. Without Jesus’s sacrifice, we would never measure up. Having been accepted into Christ’s nation, we are called to be holy just as Jesus is holy.
He has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. - 2 Timothy 1: 9-10 (NIV)
We Are God’s Special Possession
What could be more meaningful in our lives than to be God’s special possession? When we think that our lives don’t have any meaning, that we don’t matter, or whatever lies that we hear from elsewhere, they are simply untrue. We don’t have to accept them as truth because it’s not the truth! No matter what, we have a belonging. We belong to an almighty God that loves us and calls us His own-a special possession.
Our identity in Christ overrules any other things that we can be. We can win any battle that we face through this identity, including the battles within ourselves.
Let Us Pray
Heavenly Father, thank you for calling me chose, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and Your special possession. I admit I allow other things to tell me who I am, instead of letting You give me my identity. Thank You for reminding me of Your truth, which always sets me free. Help me to live in this freedom and identity. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.
Recommendation
Knowing God starts with knowing His Word. If you don’t already own a Bible, there are many churches that give one for free. You can also download a YouVersion Bible App. Or if you’d like a physical copy, it can easily be found on amazon.