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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. 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.

Everyone wants to belong. We want to know that we matter, that we are wanted, and that we have a purpose.

It does not take much to make us feel like we don’t. You walk into a room and scan the space, wondering if anyone sees you. You scroll through your phone and compare, and everyone else seems to have a place, a purpose, a people—but not you.

So, we keep asking the question: Where do I fit? We ask it because something in us broke. God created us to belong to him. But sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, severing that relationship and cutting off the connection.

The apostle Peter states it plainly: “Once you were not a people.” But that is no longer true. Through Jesus Christ, you have received mercy. Jesus lived the life you could not live. He died the death you deserved. He rose from the grave and brought you back to God. You are no longer an outsider. You belong.

God has already given you your identity: You are chosen. You are royal. You are holy. You are God’s own possession.

What others say does not change that. How you feel does not change that. What you have done or failed to do does not change that. This is who you are in Christ. And with that identity, God gives you a purpose.

He has called you out of darkness into his light so that you may declare his praises. Your new life in Christ now flows from his mercy. Not to earn a place, but because you already have one.

So, live as someone who belongs, because you do.

Gracious Father, thank you for bringing me into your family through Jesus. Help me live as your child and share the light of your mercy with others. Amen.

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.