Tag: our identity in Christ

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Ephesians Devotionals

Because we are…

Child of God

Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children… (Ephesians 5:1)

Father, those words just totally jumped off the page.

We desire to be like you, not because of fear.

Not because we feel we have to somehow earn your approval or your love.

But as people already rooted and grounded in your love.

We are already your beloved children. (1)

We are already saints. (3)

We are already light in you. (8)

We don’t have to strive to become these things.

We already are.

And as such, we joyfully seek to bring a smile to your face each day.

Help us to always remember who we are in you.

We love you because you first loved us.

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1 Peter Devotionals

Remember who you are

On the mountain with God

Father, help me to always remember who I am.

You chose me to be your child according to your foreknowledge before time began.

By your Spirit, you are changing me day by day to be more like Jesus.

You sprinkle me daily with his blood, cleansing me from my sins.

And now you call me to submit to his good reign in my life.

Through Jesus, I have an inheritance, imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for me.

And though I sometimes go through trials, you guard me by your power for the salvation that will be revealed when Jesus returns.

You do this because the faith I have is more precious to you than gold refined by fire.

So Father, let me always have a right mindset as I face each day.

Let me be clothed with your armor, prepared for action.

Let me not just go with the flow of my flesh, my instincts, feelings, and desires, but as your beloved child, let me be holy as you are holy.

Help me remember this world is not my home.

And with that in mind, help me to live a life pleasing to you each day, loving you and those you have put in my life.

Thank you for making me your child.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

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1 Peter Devotionals

Remembering who we are

1 Peter

As we live in these troubled times, it’s important to remember who we are and what we have in Jesus Christ. That’s what Peter reminds us of in this letter.

Who are we?

1. We are “the chosen.”

Before he created this world, God already knew us with all our sins, faults, and weaknesses, and yet for reasons that are beyond our understanding, he chose us anyway.

Why in the world God would choose me to be his own? I don’t know. But by his grace, he did.

2. We are exiles.

We don’t belong to this world anymore. Our inheritance is not here.

Thank goodness for that. Think of the inheritance of this world: sin, and the pain and suffering that comes from it. Even the good that we inherit here does not last.

But now we have the hope of an eternal inheritance, an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us (4).

We have the hope of life! Because Jesus lives, we also shall live. (John 14:19)

3. We are people sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

By the blood of Jesus, the guilt of our sin has been washed away. And each day, we are being made more like Jesus (Romans 8:29).

4. We are people set apart for Jesus, and for his service. (2)

In the Old Testament, people and the objects in the tabernacle were sprinkled with blood to purify them and dedicate them to God.

In the same way, we were sprinkled with the blood of Jesus and are now dedicated to him. (Hebrews 9:19-22)

How then should we live each day?

1. Set our hope fully on the grace of God. (13)

By his grace he saves you and has given you an eternal inheritance. And by his grace he will see you through the hard times of this life.

Don’t set your hope on the government. Don’t set it on money or anything else. Set it on God.

2. Live for Jesus.

As he is holy, so be holy in everything you do (15-16). Imitate him, especially in his love for others (22).

In these troubled times, may God’s grace and peace be multiplied to you. (2)