1 Peter 2:9-12
Developing a marketing plan or graphic design associated with it can be an intimidating experience. I was a part of the logo development for my old church and we really worked through how important it was for the graphics to depict the values and purpose of the church. A well designed logo can actually do a whole lot for an organization’s brand by subliminally communicating the desired message to the prospect. Consider these examples – what do you see? Amazon – notice the arrow goes from A to Z – what does Amazon want you to know? That they carry everything, from A to Z! FedEx – does anyone see the message hidden in the negative space? Between the E and the X there is an arrow pointing forward, hinting at efficiency and accuracy. Images from thefutur.com.
Logos can tell us a lot because they are visual representations that people can see. You’ve all heard the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words and that still holds very true today. We are visual as humans and our eyes take in information visually way more efficiently than reading words or our ears’ hearing. As these logos help prove, showing is far better than telling. Peter feels the same way. Look at all the visual cues he gives in this passage.
As a member of God’s royal family, we are to use our good works to visibly bear witness to God’s goodness and mercy. You are God’s logo! Let’s break that down a bit.
Express Your Identity Visually
Peter had just finished talking about how we, as believers, are being built on the foundation that is Jesus to be part of the bedrock of the church that Christ is building. Jesus is the cornerstone, but we are all part of that structure as well! And people will stumble over that building because they want to ignore the most important piece – Jesus. But for us, we are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. We are set apart (holy) so that we, as the people of God, can proclaim the excellencies of our Savior. Please don’t miss the visual cues here. Consider Prince William for a moment; a member of the royal family in Britain, have you seen him with dirt under his fingernails or with scuffed hair, or in dirty clothes? Of course not! Rags do not befit the future king of England! His respect for that title is shown by the way he carries himself, dresses himself, treats those around him, etc. William, his future and lineage set, looks every part the future king he plans to be. Verse 10 calls back to Hosea and how his mercy kept bring her back, but she couldn’t live as his. Our praise to God is a proclamation because it draws attention to us and then to Him. If people look at us and we look like the dregs of society, is that proclaiming the excellencies of our Savior? No! Our behavior matters because we represent the God who is good – therefore we must be good so that when people look at us, they see Him.
Be Visible to Others
That is the purpose! We live to be seen for the glory of God. This is exactly what Peter is saying – living as sojourners and exiles – people who don’t belong to the place they live, but are foreigners—representing a different land and a different King—which will make others want to put us down, but by us being these visual reminders of God’s goodness will ultimately lead to people giving praise to God. Consider Jim Eliott, who gave his life to an Ecuadorian tribe and was martyred, then his wife Elisabeth went right back to work with those people again! It’s your life that shows people who God is, so let the fullness of God beam through you in all His power!
Next Steps
I was told a long time ago that the best thing a youth pastor could do was to act all crazy and get all eyes on me, then at the last second, duck – so they could see Christ behind me. Your behavior matters! You are God’s logo – people see you and make judgments about God. Here are some ways to live visually for Christ:
- Celebrate Mother’s day by giving a flower to a mom while you’re out
- Live in a way that matches your actions to your beliefs
- Your faith is personal, but not private. Start simple and in your neighborhood – fix a mailbox, mow a yard, deliver cookies to a neighbor, join a book club
The logo at my old church focuses on a wave – because that community is on the beach, but also because they want to flow over other people and let the power of God flood their community. They have to live that out. My chief calling as your pastor is to live in front of you and be seen as an example of a devoted Christ follower, so that you look at me and see and then seek after Jesus. Will you come and represent Him with me?
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