Devotion 11/10, You are a Child of God

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1 Peter 2:10

”But now…” — maybe two of the greatest words in the Bible — God has loved us in Christ, and brought us into his family and gave us a purpose. We are now part of the people of God! We have been chosen for the victorious team of teams. We have received mercy! Grace has washed over us and the love of God has adopted us in his family. Peter is giving maligned and persecuted people the reminder that they can choose to see themselves as “nobodies” or they can choose to see themselves by their new identity.
Peter’s words speak to our hearts, too. Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are God’s children. We are part of his eternal and conquering people — like Moses, Esther, Paul, and Mary Magdalene. Mercy has reversed the power of sin and failure and put grace in place empowered by the Holy Spirit’s presence in us. So don’t live today as you once “were”: live today as you are in Jesus!
Before, we had not received mercy. We would have received the full penalty for our sinful choices. But through faith in Christ, we have received mercy. Our status has been permanently changed. Notice that both statements are in the present tense. We are not seeking and hoping to become God’s people and receive mercy. In Christ, we are God’s people. We have received mercy. The transaction is complete.

Lord, thank you for making me new — your child, part of your people. Please help me define my identity by your words and not my own words. I thank you for who I am and that I am no longer bound by what I once was. Thank you for your endless love, grace and mercies. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Everyday when I wake up, I give thanks, my mistakes of yesterday are forgiven and In Christ I am New to start a new day.
Lord, thank you for the forgiveness of my sins. I come to you with a contrite heart determined to serve you better today than I did yesterday. Thank you for the guidance of your Word, your Son, and the Holy Spirit. May my actions and words praise and glorify your kingdom. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen