Title: A New Name / Topic: Identity

Today's Reading: 2 Peter 1; 2 Peter 2; 2 Peter 3; John 1

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:1
1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

Observation: Peter introduces himself with a name that embodies both his earthly and heavenly identities. He was named Simon by his parents and grew up, as we all do, with certain labels being put on him that told him he had both negative and positive characteristics. But Jesus met him and gave him a new name, Peter, that foretold of a new identity forged from the character that the Spirit would place in him (see John 1:42). He was known to be rash, but he would become a solid “rock” that would be known for his steadfastness and leadership. In his name Peter had a constant reminder of where he had come from and where he was headed for eternity.

Application: We all receive a new identity when we receive Jesus. I need to focus on my new identity and live up to the high calling it gives me. It's good to remember where I came from; it should provide a contrast to where the Lord has brought me to and as a result, a grateful heart. But I need to have my sights set on my new name, the one God gives me, so that I'm motivated to live up t it and refuse to indulge the weaknesses of my sin nature that I was born into in the physical realm. I am in this world but no longer of it.

Prayer: Father, sometimes I focus too much on the restrictions and weaknesses of my past. Help me to keep in mind that you have redeemed me from that and have given me a new nature that supercedes the limitations of my old nature that was bound in sin. Thank you that I am free to reach new heights of greatness because of what you have done for me. May I live up to my new name and thank you that you have brought me out of the former limitations of my old one.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.