Tuesday Family Devotion - Our Identity Continued

Scripture Reading - 1 Peter 2:9-10

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  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.

Thought of the Day
Last time we talked about how God had chosen each and everyone of us to be his child. These verses in 1 Peter remind us that while we have been chosen as individuals, we have also all be chosen together. Not only are we God’s child, but we are God’s people. Our identity is wrapped up with everyone else’s identity as well. I have been chosen but so have you and so has your neighbor or the kid down the street, or the cashier at the grocery store. The gifts that we receive from God: His grace, His mercy and His love are meant for all of his people. And as a part of God’s people, we are called to share that with them.

Discussion questions
1. Has there ever been a person that you didn’t like?

2. Does your opinion of them change if you remember that they are a member of God’s family too?

3. What are some ways that we should treat God’s people in the world?

Prayer
Dear God,
We know that we have been given a very special identity as your child. Help us to remember that other people have been given this gift as well. Even people we don’t like are your people. Give us the strength to see everyone as your child and part of your people, just as we are. AMEN.