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Presented by Lisa Bishop

It’s easy to try to get our identity from all the wrong places rather than from the very of truth of God. And when it comes to identity, we can get hyper-focused on ourselves when we were created to fix our eyes on Jesus.

During my quiet time I found myself meditating on a familiar passage in 1 Peter. As a bit of background, the apostle Peter is writing this letter to God’s elect. Strangers in the world (those who look out of place to the world because they do not follow its customs) who God chose before creation for “obedience to Jesus Christ.” In other words, Peter is penning this letter to believers like you and me. Men and women who have been born again. Those called to a living hope in Jesus and to be a living hope displaying Jesus to a corrupt world that denies Him with its evil practices. Much like the world we are living in today.

Peter is essentially saying, “don’t follow the world, obey the Word and set yourself apart.” And that is where we come to 1 Peter 2:9: “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.”

As I read this passage these words came to mind, “It’s not about you.” Let me explain. While it is absolutely essential that you are confident in your identity in Christ, the reason that God has set you apart and made you holy is to reveal his glory.

You are chosen, holy and fully possessed by God in order that you proclaim the name of Jesus with your life. And if you are not living from your identity in him, people around you will miss out on experiencing Jesus in you. You are the Imago Dei. You reveal Christ to a world in desperate need of hope.

It’s not about you. It’s about Jesus.

What if you lived out your calling as an ambassador for Christ. Sharing your testimony of how God called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, displaying hope to your neighbors, coworkers, kids, and the cashier at the grocery store.

This does not mean you will live a perfect life but a credible life as one following after the heart of God. How will you stand firm in your identity in him and declaring his praise to those around you?