IDENTITY
1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”
I love God—with all that is within me; but I have to admit that for a good portion of my life as a Christian, this notion of being a part of His royal priesthood never really took root in me. I don’t really know why; I just never thought of myself as royalty or as a “royal priest.” But there it is in black and white! It’s what I am; it’s part of my identity in Christ, and it’s a key component of who He calls us to be.
A royal priest…What does that even mean? Well, according to Peter, we, as Christians…all of us…are the chosen people of God; and as his royal priesthood, we to be holy, set apart. As we receive the love and favor that He imbues into our lives; we are to be an example to those around us, showing His love to everyone we encounter, extolling His goodness, and lifting our voices in praise.
This is a vital role that God calls us to fulfill, but it is so easy to prioritize the other roles and facets of our identity that beckon to us in this world and cause us to put God and our kingdom work on the back burner. It’s so simple to abandon our praises as we forget God’s goodness in the hustle and bustle of the daily grind. It’s so easy to forget His charge to love one another as we endure the slights of those who don’t know Him. It’s so easy to just ignore this calling. So simple…
I guess the question we have to ask ourselves is, do we want to follow the ways of the world or the ways of God? Do we want to go our own way, do our own thing, or fulfill the role and calling that God has placed on our lives—the call to be holy, set apart, separate from the ways of this world…to live a life that is worthy of God’s Royal Priesthood?
You are royalty. As a Christian, you are one of the chosen people of God, and as such, you are a part of His royal priesthood. But you have a choice of how (and whether) you will fulfill this role. What will you choose?
Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!
Shine Your Light!
Lovely images obtained from
Exposed: Everything is Illuminated 
