“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” — 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
Restoration of Identity
The restoration of identity to the rebellious and wayward son in the story of the prodigal son is perhaps the greatest example of God’s heart to restore you and me as His children. In the story, the rebellious son returns to the father hoping solely to be allowed to serve his father as one of the slaves. But as the son approached his home, the father ran out to meet him and immediately brought restoration to his identity as a good and pleasing son in his eyes.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Through faith in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, we have been transformed from a rebellious and sinful people into reflections of our Savior. God ran out to meet us at our point of greatest weakness and clothed us with a new nature that we might no longer sin against Him but live with Him in glorious, powerful communion.
Isaiah 43:1 (ESV) says, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine.” Our Father saved us from a life of wandering and searching for who we are and has called us His holy and redeemed children. Our name is no longer associated with a sinful nature but rather with the bloodline of Christ Jesus. By no power of our own, we have been transformed, set free, redeemed and made to be like our Heavenly Father in both our nature and our deeds.
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” We have an identity that reaches far beyond simply getting through this life happily and successfully. Our identity now is to proclaim the unimaginable excellencies of our Heavenly Father. We’re called to declare to the world the incredible power of our God, that He could take our weak and helpless lives, give us new names, place His Spirit within us, and ignite a passion so deep no circumstance could ever change it. This world is not your home. The nation in which you live is no longer your highest allegiance. You are the child of the Creator, the one true God, and He has made you new, whole and purposed for works of eternal significance.
Allow your Father to declare to you your identity in Christ. Take time today to listen and receive a fresh revelation of who you are. Allow the Spirit to fill you afresh and empower you to live a life worthy of the One who has saved you. There is no greater joy than living in light of the incredible gift of a restored identity we’ve been given by the grace of our Heavenly Father.
— Craig Denison, First 15
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