Not Just Like Him - in Himಮಾದರಿ

Day 5 - More Than Me

I sometimes wonder if the greatest miracle in Acts 2 wasn’t the flames, the tongues of fire, or even the speaking in other languages. Maybe the real wonder was that Jews from every nation and tongue came together, declaring the wonderful things God had done—standing together in awe and unity.

What if one of the truest marks of being filled with the Holy Spirit is the ability to come into unity with those who are different from you? People with different upbringings, political views, cultural habits, or even worship music preferences. What if the Spirit empowers us not just to speak, but to listen—to lay down personal preferences for the sake of love, and to choose community over comfort?

That’s part of what it means to be a holy nation.

What comes to mind when you hear the word nation? For many of us, it’s flags, the Olympics opening ceremony, fireworks and national anthems. But in the Bible, “nation” means something deeper and richer. It’s about shared identity, purpose, and relationship with God.

Peter is echoing language straight out of Exodus 19, where God tells Israel:

“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession… You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:5–6, NIV).

While Israel’s identity as a nation once included ethnicity and geography, God’s vision was always bigger. In Christ, the idea of a ‘holy nation’ is redefined—not by borders or bloodlines, but by belonging to Him through faith. It’s about covenant—a relationship with God rooted in obedience, purpose, and priestly calling. It’s about being His, and from that place of identity, living out our personal and collective callings.

From the very beginning, God's vision was that all nations would come to know Him (Genesis 12:3). And Jesus fulfills and expands that calling, sending His disciples into every nation (Matthew 28:19). In Revelation 7, we catch a glimpse of the end of the story—a beautiful, multiethnic, multinational people worshiping God together around His throne, the miracle that Acts 2 foreshadowed.

So what does that mean for us today?

It means our primary identity isn’t based on where we were born or what language we speak. If we look at the course of history, every empire eventually fades. There is no more Roman Empire. And in 1,000 years, there may not be Coca-Cola, Disney—or even America. But do you know what will still remain? The Church.

“I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18, ESV).

We are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20), belonging to a holy nation that transcends borders. Our ultimate allegiance is not to a political party, a cultural identity, or any human institution—but to Jesus, our eternal King.

It also means that we weren’t meant to follow Jesus solo.

To be part of a nation is to live in community. When we isolate ourselves, we miss out on the fullness of who God is and one of the greatest blessings He has given us: His people. This holy nation—God’s people, was designed to live together with a shared identity rooted in Christ, embodying His mercy, justice, love, and truth.

Part of the culture many of us have grown up in—especially in places like America—highly value personal freedom, individualism, and the idea of achieving your dreams through self-reliance. And while there can be beauty in those ideals, I wonder if there lies the invitation to release those mindsets to God. Not to diminish our own value or purpose, but to invite us into something deeper—a life not just for ourselves, but with and for one another.

• Reflection Question: Is there any part of my thinking shaped more by culture (like individualism or self-reliance) than by God’s vision for His Church?
• Practice: This week, choose someone in your church or small group who’s different from you in background, age, personality, or perspective. Invite them to coffee or a meal. As you talk, ask them about their journey with Jesus—and simply listen without needing to respond or compare. Ask God to help you see more of His image in them.