Let Jesus Give You Your Identity

SUN, 11 AUG 2019

‘Once you had no identity.’ 1 Peter 2:10 NLT

Peter the apostle started out as Simon the fisherman. His father owned a fleet of fishing boats, and Peter probably thought that one day he’d end up running the family business when his Dad was gone.

But when the Lord has a plan for your life, He will come looking for you! Think about this fascinating interaction between Jesus and His disciples: ‘Then Jesus asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter spoke up, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus told him: “Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! You didn’t discover this on your own. It was shown to you by My Father in Heaven. So I will call you Peter, which means ‘a rock’.”’ (Matthew 16:15–18 CEV)

There’s an important lesson here. Just as Jesus redefined Simon as Peter ‘the rock’, so too when you discover who Jesus really is, you discover who you are and what He has called you to do for Him. There’s a lot more to life than working forty hours a week for forty years, retiring with a gold watch, getting a pension, and playing with your grandchildren. Just as surely as your DNA differs from every other person’s on the planet, so does your individual destiny.

But to understand and fulfil it, ‘you must be born again.’ (John 3:7 NKJV) Jesus said at the grave of Lazarus, ‘He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.’ (John 11:25 NKJV) And the One who raised Lazarus from the dead can bring you to life spiritually, too. Seek Him and He will also tell you who you really are.