Your Identity
September 25, 2015
Romans 8:15-16 – “15 … And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (NIV)
I love this piece from the book, Sons and Daughters of God. “When you became a Christian, you became a son or daughter of God. That is who you are. Whatever labels you put on yourself or that others have put on you that have bound you are gone. You are no longer identified as lost, broken, messed up, or dysfunctional. Labels like loser, worthless, not good enough, stupid, ugly, and low achiever do not tell who you are. You are now a son or daughter of God. Claim your identity. You are beautiful, loved, blessed, redeemed, purposeful, and joyful. You are amazing. You are according to the Word, a victor, an heir, a minister, a saint, a friend, a believer. You are a son or a daughter of God. Your past is no longer your story. Your mess-ups have been forgiven and forgotten. You know who you are. You are a son or daughter of God. You are now living in God’s new story, not your old story. You are free. No more fake smiles, no more make-believe happiness, no more hiding the truth, no more past hurts or sins defining your life. No more negative voices telling you who you are. No more grave clothes. There is one voice speaking for all of earth and for heaven and it is a forever voice. It is the voice of God. He says, ‘You are my son or you are my daughter. You are beautiful, amazing, magnificent,’ and God says, ‘I take great delight in you.’ God didn’t mess up when He made you. You are intentionally designed, terrifically loved, and a delight to God. Jesus didn’t come to correct your behavior. He came to correct your identity. You are a son or daughter of God. Claim your identity.”
I love this piece from the book, Sons and Daughters of God. “When you became a Christian, you became a son or daughter of God. That is who you are. Whatever labels you put on yourself or that others have put on you that have bound you are gone. You are no longer identified as lost, broken, messed up, or dysfunctional. Labels like loser, worthless, not good enough, stupid, ugly, and low achiever do not tell who you are. You are now a son or daughter of God. Claim your identity. You are beautiful, loved, blessed, redeemed, purposeful, and joyful. You are amazing. You are according to the Word, a victor, an heir, a minister, a saint, a friend, a believer. You are a son or a daughter of God. Your past is no longer your story. Your mess-ups have been forgiven and forgotten. You know who you are. You are a son or daughter of God. You are now living in God’s new story, not your old story. You are free. No more fake smiles, no more make-believe happiness, no more hiding the truth, no more past hurts or sins defining your life. No more negative voices telling you who you are. No more grave clothes. There is one voice speaking for all of earth and for heaven and it is a forever voice. It is the voice of God. He says, ‘You are my son or you are my daughter. You are beautiful, amazing, magnificent,’ and God says, ‘I take great delight in you.’ God didn’t mess up when He made you. You are intentionally designed, terrifically loved, and a delight to God. Jesus didn’t come to correct your behavior. He came to correct your identity. You are a son or daughter of God. Claim your identity.”
– Dr. Tim Thompson