ESOCS Devotional 6 November 2024 – Know Who You Are
MEMORY VERSE: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praise of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1st Peter 2:96
TEXT: 1 PETER 2:1-17
Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
“Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who [b]are disobedient,
“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”
8 and
“A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
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Identity crisis is one major reason it is difficult to have an ideal society. There are several persons, Christians alike, who do not really know who they are. And until you know who you are, you cannot be known in your generation. People who don’t know who they are become vulnerable to the attacks and traps of the enemy.
Our text unveils to us our true and authentic identity in Christ. We are first a chosen generation, meaning there was a selective process that singled us out. God Himself chose us and not we ourselves. Chosen to fulfil purpose, execute divine mandate, accomplish Kingdom assignment, chosen to be an ambassador of light and a representative of heaven on earth. We were not chosen to promote the kingdom of darkness nor advertise the flesh and the devil. We were chosen by God to live for God.
Again, we are a Royal Priesthood. You are a priest with a crown of royalty on your head, meaning you are not an ordinary priest. There is a voice, command and appearance of royalty attached to your priesthood. So, you execute the office of priesthood with an aura and touch of royalty. You are not a poor priest; you are not meant to exist pitiable because you carry the mantle of royalty on your head.
Also, we are known as a Holy Nation. A people who epitomizes holiness. A nation where holiness is at the centre of its lifestyle, decisions, actions, appearances, thoughts and words. You were created to exist in holiness because that’s who you are.
Interestingly, God calls us a peculiar people. Yes! A people earmarked for greatness. You are not like every other person; you are unique, distinguished, special, eminent, and extraordinary person. Never look down or belittle yourself. You are set apart in a class of your own without any rival. Yes! That is who you are; go out today and show to the world that you have been called out of darkness and you exist in the marvellous light of God, as that is where you belong. Congratulations!
- Properly understand who God says you are and run with the light.
- Never be ashamed to declare your real identity in God.
- Ensure that by the salvation of your soul you are brought out of darkness.
- Father, I bless you for making me who I am; thank you for privilege of relationship with you; help me to always manifest my real identity to my world, in Jesus name. Amen.
Further Reading: Job 6:1-13; Proverbs 13:7-end; Luke 17:20-end; 1 Corinthians 14:26-end
ESOCS Devotional 6 November 2024
