Who Are You??

 If you have given your life to Jesus, the answer to that is in 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."

You are chosen

If Messi or Bismarck or AB came along and chose you to play in his team, it would kinda be a big deal. It would be such an honour and I’m sure you’d play your heart out. But what’s an even bigger deal times a million, is that the Holy God, the Creator of the universe, Jesus, has chosen you to be on his team, on his mission. You are not overlooked or forgotten. So don’t sit on the sideline watching. Get into the game, give it everything you got and live all out for Jesus.

You are royal

Through God’s great love you are adopted into his family and are now his child [1 John 3:1]. Therefore, because God is the King of kings, you are indeed a prince/princess. You are not a piece of dirt, you are a member of God’s royal family. So live like it; not in a stuck up, looking down on others way, but live knowing how much value you hold.

You are a priest

Does this mean you should be wearing a big robe and working in a church? No. It means you have complete access to the presence of God. It means you are here on earth to do the work of God, in whatever different way he has called you to. It requires sacrifice from you, not of animals like the old times, but of your life, time, gifts and body [Romans 12:1].

You are holy

Holiness is to be different, to be set apart to live for God. You are called to be holy, which means you are called to live by a different standard, the standard of Jesus [Colossians 3:12-17]. If you just live the same way as the people who don’t love Jesus, what good is that? Be wiling to stand up, to stand out and to shine bright with holiness for Jesus.

You belong to God

Everybody needs to belong somewhere. We were all created to love and be loved. So we try to fit in wherever we can find a gap. But you don’t have to worry about finding a gap to fit in, because you belong to the Almighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you [Hebrews 13:5]. He is yours and you are his.

You are in the light

You don’t have to stumble around in the darkness and you don’t have to live in a world without light and colour, because God has called you out of that. He has called you to turn away from sin and to live a life of love and truth in which you will find wonderful light, hope, joy, peace and abundant life.

  

Therefore, in the light [excuse the pun] of all that you are in Jesus, live to declare his praises.

Starving

Have you ever felt tired, lazy and just kinda over everything? Ever wondered why you feel like that? Maybe it’s because you’re starving yourself. Not physically, but starving yourself from something way bigger than food: from Jesus and his Word.

Jesus says that our bodies have no life in them by themselves, but that his words are full of life [John 6:63]. He also says that the life he gives is more than just this thing we have on earth before we die and it’s more than not being dead. Knowing God, having a relationship with Jesus: that is life [John 17:3]. And the best way to know God is to spend time with him and find him in his Word, the Bible.

It’s simple: if we’re not getting Jesus’ words into us and getting to know him, we won’t have life. Way too often we don’t read the Bible to get the Word and life of Jesus into us, and then wonder why we feel so empty and lifeless. If you don’t hunger after Jesus, you won’t be filled [Matthew 5:6]. Don’t starve yourself! Fill up your spiritual stomach, your soul, with the Word, and you will live and you will grow.

Being full also allows you to share the life with others. God told Ezekiel: “Eat what is before you, eat this scroll [the Word]; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” [Ezekiel 3:1] Once you’ve got the words and life of Jesus in you, get out there and share it. Sharing is caring!

So where do you begin to read these amazing words? Well, if you want to know more about being filled with Jesus, take your Bible and read John 6 from verse 25. As you read the words of Jesus, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with his wonderful life.

And if that doesn’t get you amped enough about God’s Word, go to the middle of your Bible and read Psalm 119. Yeah, it’s the longest chapter in the Bible, but I guess it just requires a whole lot of words to describe the greatness of the gift of God’s Word to us.

Here are a few great thoughts from Psalm 119:

· How do us young people stay pure? By living by the Word of God [v9]
· How do we stand against the sin and temptation we face? By getting God’s Word into us [v11]
· Where do we find strength when we are tired and depressed? The Words of Jesus [v28]
· How do we let go of the things that break us down? By turning our hearts to God’s Word [v37]
· Where do we find hope (and love) in a hopeless place? In the Word of God [v43]
· How do we not give up when we’re desperate and hurting? By delighting in Jesus’ Word [v92]
· What lights our way in our dark days? The Words of Jesus [v105]

Don't miss out, don't starve. There is life in Jesus and in him alone. Read your Bible, spend time with God and get his Word and his life into your heart.