All of My Best Friends Devotional by Hillsong Y&FSample

Best Friends

1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”

“I don’t want a stereotype to decide who I am, it never knew me anyway.” – Best Friends, Young & Free.

A stereotype, as defined by the Cambridge Dictionary, is a set idea that people have about what someone or something is like, especially an idea that is wrong. Nobody likes being defined by something that just isn’t true about themselves. A sad reality of modern society is the popularity of different stereotypes, which are perhaps enhanced by social media. Everyone is fitted into a stereotype and often the negative persona that is associated with that stereotype can begin to become your identity. You do the things that are considered cool, you make sure you wear the right clothes to fit in. You talk the talk and walk the walk.

But YOU are so much more than a stereotype or pretending to be somebody that you aren’t on social media.

1 Peter 2:9 tells us that we are set apart. We are not like the world and not like the stereotypes. In fact, God has defined us as, “chosen, a royal priesthood, holy nation, God’s very possessions.” A stereotype cannot reveal who we are but God does! The best part is that when we realize that we are defined by God, we can help others come to that same realization. The end of the verse says, “you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” We can show others the TRUTH about themselves because everyone wants to know the truth about who they are.

Self-reflection:

1. What are some stereotypes I often use to describe myself?

2. What are some things that God says about me? What is another verse that describes what God says about me?

3. How can I change my thinking to be more aligned with what God thinks about me?

TO-DO-LIST:

Use 1 Peter 2:9 to tell a friend about the way God thinks of them.