1 Peter 2:10, New Living Translation

“Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”

Where are we looking to find our identity? Where are we looking to find our words? Many of us have tried to find it in the world. By doing this, we are trying our best to live up to the expectations of the world. Are you exhausted? Are you tired of trying to live up to the standards of the world where the expectations seem harder and harder to obtain?

1 Peter 2:10 (NLT) says, “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” Here, my brothers and sisters, is where we find our identity, our worth, and mercy.

Identity is found in our Lord and Savior. Because of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us, we are able to become children of God. What does it mean to be a child of God?

It means we don’t have to live up to the standards of the world and try to obtain expectations that leave us exhausted and looking for the next thing to fill the hole in our heart. If we allow Christ into our hearts, He will do the work needed in us to be who He wants us to be. He will help us to forgive, to heal, to grow and flourish in His courts, we are His masterpiece that He created in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.  (Ephesians 2:10, NLT)

Christ will meet us and accept us where we are in life. He doesn’t look down upon us with shame or embarrassment,regret, heat, or anger. All of these words describe the father of lies. In John 10:10, NLT it states: “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

It is a choice. We have to make every day to die to our own self and live in the light of Jesus Christ, our identity.

 “For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:21-25, NLT)

Being a child of God is not a walk in the park. There will be challenges to overcome that only strengthen your feelings. But Christ wants you to keep your focus on Him. The Bible tells us, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD God is the eternal Rock.” (Isaiah 26:3-4, NLT)

The enemy will try to take away your identity. He will try to discourage you and get you to give up. He wants to get you to fall back into your old ways. He knows the power and you – Christ in you! Paul says, My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.” (Galatians 2:20-21, NLT)

Without Christ, our lives are meaningless, like chasing after the wind. With Christ, our lives have purpose, we have identity, and we are loved beyond measure. We are to love God and to love people! We are to follow the example of Christ! Love conquers all. “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13, NLT)