“Well done, good and faithful servant…” (Matthew 25:23)
Do you long to hear that? Confirming that what you are doing is meaningful, that makes a difference? A question I do have for you - do you know that you are
important? That you are valued? That you are touching lives and making a difference? If the answers to those 3 questions isn’t YES then you aren’t seeing you nor your a/effects. Orrr... if it is true, YOU can change this.
My thesis is that none of us are particularly adept at accepting compliments and encouragement until we begin to understand who this new creature is that’s being created. A corollary to that thesis is the realizing that we aren't in this alone. We have the best of all partners, the Holy Spirit, to help us accomplish the Father's business. When we choose to grow then we take the first step toward being in this state.
FIRST, we need to realize that we have a new identity! And with this awareness, this understanding we can ‘use’ this as foundation. Identity is really the starting point because if we don’t know who we are how could we possibly do what we desire to and become that faithful servant to the Lord? I’m not going to share all of the discoveries that scripture provides about our identity, but I would like to share a few as encouragement.
Listen to how our Identity once we are born again is described:
You are chosen [John 15:16]
“You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name [as My representative] He may give to you.”
No mistake about our status - we are chosen. All we need do is to believe and act on this.
You are a new person [2 Corinthians 5:17]
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].”
You are a NEW PERSON, one interpretation is a creature never before seen. The important point is that you NOW are new and are on adventure to discover your new.
You are an heir of God [Romans 8:17]
“And if [we are His] children, [then we are His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance], if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory.”
The thought of being an heir is kind of difficult to get your head around… doesn’t make it less true. This is how the Father looks at us. We don’t earn it, we certainly can’t purchase it - it is a gift.
You are blessed [Ephesians 1: 3-4]
“Blessed and worthy of praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ, just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is,
consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In love…”
Blessed with every spiritual blessing! That does cover it all. In partnership with the Lord, you can do great things. These were only 3 parts of who you are, your identity. There are more. But until you choose to have them become your identity - they remain only words.
Listen to the words from 1 Chronicles 28:20
““Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.”
Our command, commission, and comfort is the last sentence - He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord. Finished?! Never finished... NEVER FORSAKEN.
No comments:
Post a Comment