As we come into this walk with Christ, we first need to establish our Identity or who we are now in Christ. This is an essential primary step that even some who have been following Christ for years have yet to build this foundation. We can see the Apostle Peter in book 1 Peter, chapter 2, who starts laying this foundation for believers. He is trying to give them "The Standard", or what it looks like when you follow Jesus. There is fruit in a believer's life that should be seen by those around them because they follow Christ but even more there is a new mindset that comes when a believer walks in their true identity as sons and daughters.
Let's take a peek here in 1 Peter Chapter 2 verses 1. Peter starts by telling the believers to "get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech", this reminds me of the book of James when he says to "show me your faith by your works", meaning we put in the work to look like Christ. Now can we do it all on our own...nope but we have the helper. Peter gives us practicals that we can do right now and that we can make the conscious effort not to be deceitful, a hypocrite, jealous, and watch what we say. Not even on a deep spiritual level if we all did this the world would be a better place. I think these are some of the actions we can take responsibility for and change our lives to be better.
Identity
Like my friend, Nacho says now we get to the nitty-gritty. Starting in verse 4 Peter starts helping us lay the foundation of who we have now become because we have accepted Christ. He helps us understand that we have come to Christ, "who is the living cornerstone of God's temple", and we are now the "living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests". What an amazing picture of who we are in relation to Christ and the Father. Christ is the cornerstone and we are the building blocks that make up the Father's spiritual temple. We now as the church will house the spirit of God as Israel did through the temple. We are who the Holy Spirit calls home. Even more, we are called his priests who are those who offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.
So just a quick refresher:
1 - You are a living stone that helps make up the Lord's Temple and that houses His Spirit.
2 - You are a Holy Priest who now offers spiritual sacrifices that Please the Lord.
Now we jump down to Verse 9 where we are told that we are now "a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession". Now Peter is really cooking. We are a chosen people and he states again that we are royal priests, then he adds that we are now a holy nation and God's very own possession. Another version says that we are a "special people for God's own possession". Please don't rush past this but let this sink in because that is what the process of transformation needs. It needs you to let what the Lord says about you overwrite what you say about you. If you need to add this to your daily affirmations do so or when the enemy starts lying to you remind yourself who you are. Even better is that when you start to walk this out the fruit is that those around you will begin to benefit Peter states that "as a result, you can show others the goodness of God". In our church, we call this transformed people transforming culture.
Let's add to our list now:
1 - You are a LIVING STONE that helps make up the Lord's Temple and that houses His Spirit.
2 - You are a HOLY/ROYAL PRIEST who now offers spiritual sacrifices that Please the Lord.
3 - You are CHOSEN
4 - You are a part of God's HOLY NATION
5 - You are God's VERY OWN POSSESSION
Now my challenge for you would be as you read more and more scripture to continue to add to this list. God in His Words says many things about you and you need to know what He has said and what He is saying. We have terrible short-term memory but in the hardest of times reminding your soul of who you are will help sustain you through the tests and trials.
Post below your lists and the scriptures that state them so we can build together
Comentários