WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE
Sarah Sloan
Today's Scripture: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.” John 14:18-19, ESV
Theme: Jesus stays with us in the form of the Holy Spirit and offers a place in His family and real life.
THE LIES OF THE WORLD
I am in a season of life where I am surrounded by teens. This includes the smells, the hormones, and the constant questions and doubts about whether they are liked, worthy, accepted, and valued. The other day, I was having one of these heartfelt discussions with one of them. I reminded my child that we are made in God’s image, that each child is fearfully and wonderfully created, adopted into God’s family, and a child and heir of the King of Kings. In that moment, my teen shoved away from me and asked me to stop talking. After being so hurt, it was impossible to accept the truth of who we are in Christ Jesus. My child argued that the lies they had been hearing felt truer than the spiritual truths that I spoke over them. Standing there, my heart broke.
For all of us, the lies can sometimes feel so true and so much bigger than God’s truth. Just because something feels louder, it doesn’t make it the truth. In a world where the lies scream at us, the truth still says, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God” (Galatians 4:4-7, ESV).
THE TRUTH GOD SPEAKS OVER YOU
This is truth. Your emotions aren’t true. They are real feelings, but they are not truth. What others say about you isn’t truth. How you think others perceive you isn’t truth. The truth is that God loves you. He bought your freedom at a great price. You are redeemed. You were made in God’s image. He had a perfect plan when He designed you. You are chosen. And when you accept God’s plan of salvation through Jesus, you were adopted into God’s family. You became an heir in the Kingdom of God. You are sealed for all eternity. Ephesians 1:13b-14a says that when you “…believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it…” (ESV).
This is amazing news! This means that when we feel unsure of who we are, of our purpose, or of our eternal destination, that we don’t have to be left doubting and without proof that God will stay true to His Word. Instead, we have been given a great gift, the Holy Spirit, Who promises to make His temple within us and to remain with us. He promises to guide us into all truth, which means He will set us free from lies (John 16:13). He will teach us all things and bring to our remembrance God’s truth (John 14:26). His indwelling will produce fruit in our lives; not just changed behaviors but something new that is produced by God and not by our own power. The evidence in our lives will be our love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We are told that He will bring freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17) and give us power (Romans 15:13, Acts 1:8) to live for Him.
THE WORD OF GOD COMES TO LIFE
The day after I had this conversation with my child, we went to a church in western North Carolina where the pastor preached a sermon all about your true identity in Christ. He spoke about being adopted into God's family, about belonging, about being an heir. He spoke of purpose, calling, and passion; and most importantly, this pastor allowed the Holy Spirit to guide him as he spoke exactly to words my child needed to hear. I leaned over at the end of the service, and I whispered, “God had him preach this message just for you.” My teen could only smile at me.
Make It Personal: God’s truth in your life is that you are loved and valued. You are an heir to eternal life in His kingdom. I pray you come to know that, too. I pray you ask, seek, and knock and then allow the Holy Spirit to make His home in your heart so that you sense His presence.
Pray: Holy Spirit, You are a gift, and I am so thankful that You would come and live within me. Thank You for being with me to remind me of God and teach me His ways. I want to become more pleasing to God in every area of my life. I know that I can’t do this on my own. It’s only through Your power at work in me that I can change. Help me. Give me a soft heart and begin producing fruit in my life that pleases you. I am Yours. Amen.
Read: Psalm 139:14, John 16:13, 14:26, Galatians 5:22-23, 2 Corinthians 3:17, romans 15:13, Acts 1:8
Weekly Memory Verse: “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8, ESV