1 Peter 2:9–10 (ESV)
“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. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

Oftentimes in America, we start conversations with someone we’ve just met by asking, “What do you do for a living?” The discussion then goes to our job or career. As a result, we measure a lot of our value based on what we do. It’s almost as if who you are is dependent on what you do.

But in the Kingdom, it is the opposite. Who you are determines your value and your purpose, and those things should guide your activities in life. In our focus verse, we learn a powerful truth about our relationship with God—He chooses us. And He chooses us because He created us. No matter how bad you may feel about yourself on certain days, God loves you and is invested in you becoming everything He created you to be.

Without this relationship with Christ, we are lost. It’s kind of like when we find something and don’t know what it is or what it’s for. We wonder, “What was this made to do?” Then we use Google Lens, find the item, and click on the link to its product manual. We learn who the manufacturer is and the purpose of the item.

The Word of God is our “product manual,” and God is our “manufacturer.” When we learn WHO made us and WHY, we can truly be WHO we were created to be.

We are chosen.
We are royal.
We are holy.
We are His possession.

And we are CALLED out of darkness, lostness, and bondage INTO His marvelous light—direction, clarity, purity, and clear purpose.

Holiness isn’t about striving to become someone new—it’s about living from the identity God has already given you. Fulfilling your purpose is made clear once you know WHOSE you are! Remember the shepherd boy David, who was pressured to wear Saul's armor? Fighting with a sword and armor wasn't in alignment with WHO he was at that time. Be You. Be who God has called you to be.

Don’t let WHAT you do determine WHO you are. Let WHO you ARE determine WHAT YOU DO.

Prayer:
Father, I pray for kids who are growing up in a difficult world. It is so easy to let life define us. There is so much pressure to find value in what others say or what others determine is “valuable.” Help my kids live from their true identity in You. Let them live from love, not for it—to gain their value from who they are, not what they do. Give them clarity and peace as they find their purpose in You.