Tunch Ilkin was a fourteen-year veteran of the NFL, a three-time Pro-Bowler, and a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers All-time team. Not a bad resume. For years after his playing career, Tunch worked as a Steelers broadcaster and served as Director of Men’s Ministry at our church. As you might imagine, Tunch had some great stories. One he loved to tell took place during an autograph session. A boy came up, learned that Tunch was a former Steeler, and asked, “Who are you?” Tunch said, “I am Tunch Ilkin.” The youngster, not satisfied, asked again, “Yeah, but who did you use to be?” Today’s passage tells us who we used to be.

1 Peter 2:10
Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Every believer used to be someone. But our resumes were not impressive. There was a time when we were on our own, headed to an eternity separated from God. As the apostle Paul clearly states, we “were… separated from Christ…strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). Then, thankfully, God interrupted our journey.

Today we are recipients of God’s grace and mercy. In his grace, he has given us what we don’t deserve. In his mercy, he has not given us what we do deserve. We are not who we used to be. We are a new creation. Thank God “the old has passed away; behold, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Father, we’re not yet who we want to be, and we are not yet who we’re going to be but thank you that by your grace and mercy, we are not who we were! In Jesus’ name. Amen.