“But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted” (1 Peter 2:9-10).

That’s the good news. That’s the story you and I have to tell to the world. That’s not original to me, but I guess you knew that.

What is original is your own story. No one in history has ever or will ever live your life. The good, the bad, the goofy, the ugly, no matter what it looks like, it is all yours and only yours.

God has given you your story to tell. God has given me my own story to tell. I heard today that someone who will never step foot inside a church building or spend a red cent on buying a Bible is watching your life. You are their Bible, their Jesus, and what they see will inform what they think about God.

That’s what the word Christian means, after all. Little Christ. Not that we’re divine or anything close to that. But if we have surrendered to Jesus and invited Him to take over our lives, then His Holy Spirit is inside us, making us more like Jesus each day.

The beautiful part is that transformation looks different for each person. We each display a different facet of Christ’s character and when we come together in unity, love and fellowship, Jesus is magnified. That’s worship. Whether together or individually, everything we do can show the great worth of God’s glory.

We’re not always the best witnesses. I know for sure that I’m not. Thankfully, as I heard a pastor say, Jesus isn’t quick to judge, but He is quick to be patient and merciful and, best of all, to unconditionally love. He treats us so much better than we deserve and He invites us to treat others that way.

Remember that. You were a nobody and a reject, but now you’re somebody and you’re accepted. You were lost but now you’re found. You are a child and heir of the King of Kings have a new name– BELOVED. That itself changes everything.

Tell your story. Someone will hear it and find that this Jesus is as good or better than you say He is. It’s worth it for just that one person. I should know, because that person was me once.