A Prince was born and it's all over the news. It's
captivated America and taken over media headlines. He's third in line to the throne. His future
holds titles and responsibilities: Son of a Duchess, Head of State over
numerous nations, Supreme Governor of an entire country's church. Just days old
and his future is planned. No questions asked. No earning the titles or losing
the status. This Prince was birthed into it like you are birthed into air. It's
in His blood. Royalty.
And countless mothers stare in awe at this Majestic
Mama- What must it be like- to be her- to birth him. How will she raise him? Will
she participate in his schooling? Will she use positive discipline, behavior
modification, emotion coaching, or just a royal butt woopin? Will she make him
meals or teach table etiquette? Will she share her faith and train him in God's
Word and ways? Will they read bedtime stories together and bend the knee to
pray each night? Will he call her Mom, Princess, Duchess, Madam?
What a mighty responsibility.
It all seems like a fairytale and we're thankful
it's her story, yet we crave the happy ending; the once upon a time beginning. We
exhale with thanksgiving that the expectation's on her, not us. The eyes of the
world look and watch, question and consider. He's a Prince and she's his Royal
Mother.
But what I may not know, what I might have
forgotten, what this Mama is reflecting on today- I'm royal too. My son, he's
not just any boy. He's the child of a King. Son of a princess. His future is
written in stone- his works fashioned before time began. I bore this boy
through water, and God bore him again in the Spirit (John 3:5).
I coddled, cleansed, and
kept him safe. I prayed with him. I interceded for him. I taught him grammar,
math, manners, and a myriad of dos and don'ts. I've appealed to him with
bribes, and beaten him with rods. I've rubbed his back, tickled his pits, and giggled
over toots and poop and life's mysterious sounds. And smells.
More than 6,000,000 minutes in my care. Over 4,000
days under my responsibility. 12 years for me to show him love. To teach him
truth. To lead him to Jesus. And watch Jesus have His way with a boy named
Joseph.
My son is a prince and an heir to the throne.
God's throne. An eternal throne. Once upon a time, twelve years ago, he was
born. And he will live happily ever after in the presence of God and the hands
of his Savior. And what happens in between? This royal Mama lavishes him with
affection and dramatic adoration. She corrects him and cries with him, while
the Author fills in the gaps. Gaps only He can perfect. Making wrongs right and
walking a prince to the door of His courts.
He shaped his inwards parts
and covered him in my very womb. That tiny frame was never hidden from God when
he was made in secret, skillfully wrought by the Master Maker. His substance was
seen before that little face was ever formed. And there's a book. A book
containing all his days; fashioned for him when as yet there were none of them
(Psalm 139:13-16). The words within speak of my son- that he's of a chosen generation,
of a holy nation. Yes, even a royal priesthood! That he's a special person (1
Peter 2:9). Yes, that's my boy. No earning the title or losing the status. My prince
was birthed into it like you are birthed into air. It's in His blood. It's
through His blood. It's a Royal Blood-Line and an eternal Life-line.
The eyes of your understanding being
enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the
riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding
greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His
mighty power.
18. This is a continuation of Paul’s prayer for the
Ephesians and it proceeds fourteen verses of explanation regarding who they were
in Christ. Here, Paul talks of their understanding (which refers to their
feelings, desires, and thoughts) versus their knowledge (facts which
have definite meaning); what they feel as opposed to what they know.
So often my feelings, desires, and thoughts contradict and
overrule what I know as fact- specifically regarding who God is and who I
am. This is why I must take every thought captive to the obedience of
Christ (2 Cor 10:5). Paul prays they become enlightened (instilled
with saving grace- we can only fight this battle of the mind by God’s grace),
so that they can grasp and walk in a clear understanding of what the facts
are; of what their hope (expectation) is in. What are the facts? 1. They
were called (personally invited). 2. They received an inheritance
abounding in riches and wealth (This is the third time Paul speaks of their
inheritance- Maybe inheritances were a big deal to the Ephesians?). 3. They
are saints- most holy thing! Wow! Should a most holy thing have a
problem with identity and receiving what’s already been given?
19. He goes on- not only does he want them to grasp who
they are and what they have received, but also the power of the One
who made them who they are and gave them all they have. He pleads for them to
grasp this exceeding (surpassing; excelling) strength and ability of God
toward us who believe. Beth Moore teaches this word ‘believe’ to be ‘presently, actively, continually believing,’
and it refers to being persuaded and
confidently trusting. Paul uses three different words for ‘power’ in this one verse. I think he wants
us to grasp one last thing: 4.The power of our God.
My takeaway- What I know
must overrule what I feel, desire, and think. I don't always feel or act like a daughter of the King, but that doesn't change the fact that I am. Do not cease to
pray for God’s grace to confidently walk in the knowledge that my hope
is in Christ and He has called me by name to receive an inheritance
overflowing with an abundance of riches and wealth that will not perish.
I am a saint; a most holy daughter of the King, and I should walk
as that, with my head held high. Before I can walk as a confident ‘princess,’ I
must understand
the power
of the King I’ve been accepted by. WHO IS HE? He made me who I am and has given
me all I have. His exceeding strength is toward me, because I believe in Him. I
pray that my belief would be not only for this moment, but presently, actively,
and continually.
The cottage cheese thighs and muffin top drove me to it. I
couldn’t take it anymore. After weeks of not running and weeks prior to that of
sporadic, inconsistent running, I shoved myself onto the treadmill. I can
honestly say it was torture. Not a moment of enjoyment or satisfaction. (I actually took a picture of my own muffin top, but could not bring myself to post it for you!)
The whole time I kept pushing aside thoughts that went
something like ‘if you’d been more consistent
you wouldn’t be having this issue right now,’ or ‘your laziness sure took its toll.’ Yes, those things are TRUE,
I can’t deny that. However, I can deny them being noble, lovely,
pure,
praiseworthy,
or of goodreport! And if my thoughts don’t fit
into those categories, I mustn’t think on them (Phil 4:8).
What did I replace those ugly, blameworthy,
discouraging
thoughts with? ‘Yes, this is horrible and
something close to torture, yes, I brought it on myself, but I know I CAN do
this because I’ve done it before!’
God is teaching me the importance of knowing MY
IDENTITY, and not just that, but the difference between MY
IDENTITY and MY ACTIONS. It seems like I am writing a lot about this lately, which must mean I have much to learn in this area. How often those two
things get confused in my mind and life: IDENTITY and ACTIONS. I fall short and I sin (action), leaving me feeling
unaccepted and less loved by God (identity). Does this mean that when I have a moment
without sin (surely I must have those) that God loves and accepts me more?
NOPE.
I can do nothing to make God love me more. I can do nothing
to make God love me less. I am accepted by Him regardless of my actions. I’m
reminded of the name He gave me, and I offer this task up to you as well. Ask
God to give you a name. Ask Him who you are. I did this, and before I could
even finish asking, I clearly heard the word BELOVED. About
a week later, as I thought about this word and was writing it down, I realized
that to be His BELOVED, I must BE LOVED; I must allow myself to receive
His love. Do you see this? BELOVED = BE LOVED. This is what God
is walking me through. Scratch
that! If God says I am (or you are) His BELOVED, that means exactly that. I
can choose to receive it or not. However, if I choose not to receive His love,
I remain His BELOVED regardless. My job- to walk in it; to let my actions
reflect that identity.
I cannot walk in my identity if I don’t know and
accept who I am. Because I KNEW I could do it, I didn’t allow my inconsistency
and laziness to keep me from running for thirty minutes. As I struggled on that
treadmill I kept telling myself ‘I’m
going to get through this, because I KNOW I’m a runner! I KNOW I can do this
and I will not allow my actions this past month to change that!’
MY ACTION- I fall short and sin everyday
MY IDENTITY- Beloved by God and made righteous and holy
My actions do not change my identity
'Remind Me Who I Am' Jason Gray You Tube
(Be sure to watch the video as you listen closely to the words)
I have completed my first week together with a group of 15 other ladies in the book of Ephesians. If I ever again doubt who I am in Christ, I have only to turn to this first chapter to regain full confidence of my state before Him! I praise God for using Paul to write this letter to the Ephesians and to us. Go here for a quick Introduction to the book of Ephesians.
Paul is an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to God’s
will, not the will of any man. Paul was formerly a murderer of Christians, yet
God willed him to be a changed man, an apostle, a delegated messenger sent
forth with orders. If God can turn a murderer into a messenger of life, what
can He do with you and me?
He writes to the saints, those already saved, you and me,
and he begins with the words grace and peace. Paul was a zealous
man of God. Can you imagine receiving a letter from him? I wonder if the
Ephesians’ chests became tight with thoughts of ‘oh dear, what’s he going to say? What have we done wrong?’ Then the letter is read and they hear those
words: grace and peace. What a release! What a huge
weight lifted off the shoulders of these believers! What a vital message for me
as mom, wife, friend. Paul didn’t immediately zero in on the issues of wives
submitting to husbands, children honoring parents, or slaves obeying masters (or
keeping a clean house, having dinner on the table by 5:00). I want to offer my
children grace and peace BEFORE I press them about
hanging up their coats, putting their shoes away, or getting their homework
finished. How much more willingly they will do these things if grace
and peace
are in the forefront!
Paul doesn’t attempt to understand, rationalize, or explain every
spiritual blessing or what exactly it means that He chose us in Him before the
foundation of the world. Predestination? Isn’t that a can of worms we
all want to jump right into? Paul simply rejoices that it is so. He praises God
for our blessings and takes comfort in his salvation. Do I think it was easy
for Paul to look back and realize that while he was slaying God’s people, God
looked upon him and said, “He’s mine. I
already chose him.” I doubt Paul could wrap his mind around that! However,
he chose to accept it, praise God for it, and walk in it. Because of that, he
was able to see himself in the eyes of his Lord as holy and without blame
and was able to offer this same confidence to other believers as well. This is
a high calling for me as a wife and mom. It is by accepting and walking in my
identity in Christ as chosen in Him before the foundation of the
world and holy and without blame that peace and grace
will flow from me to others.
There’s that controversial issue again- predestined. Only, Paul
takes it further and reminds us that we are adopted children. The
fact that I’m not a Jew should disqualify me, but no, He adopted me and made me
His. Most adopted children don’t resemble their adopted parents, but I
resemble my adopted Father, bearing His Spirit, His attributes, being created
in His image. Not only are we adopted but we are accepted!
I have not adopted children, nor was I adopted by my parents, but I have had
foster children in my home, and I know they struggled to feel accepted.
They also desperately wanted to be with their unsafe, unhealthy parents because
that was the situation they knew and were comfortable in. I was adopted
by my heavenly Father almost 14 years ago, yet there are times I still feel unaccepted
by my new family. I feel like I don’t quite fit in, yet I don’t fit in with the
world anymore either. Adoption can be a tough road, but we
ARE accepted
in the Beloved. My adoption is final and it brings praise
of the glory of His grace.
It is only in Jesus Christ that we have redemption from our sins.
This redemption
is a releasing, a deliverance, a freedom from the price required for my sin,
and that price is death. Christ died in my place and I am free! This grace,
this receiving what I don’t deserve, is found in His forgiveness and it abounds
toward me!I am to live as one who has
received COMPLETE freedom and deliverance. Rather bear the
countless horrible things I’ve done, said, or thought on my shoulders, I want
to walk in COMPLETE forgiveness (letting the sin go as if it had never been
committed) because this is what Christ has done for me! And this forgiveness
He made to ABOUND toward me. I like what the online strong’s says about
this word ABOUND- “Abounding is used of a flower going from a bud to full
bloom.”
I feel like that bud, not allowing myself to fully bloom,
not receiving the abundance of God’s forgiveness.The word says He made known to me
(confided in me- you only confide in those you trust) His forgiveness through
the blood of Jesus. I want to walk in that. If I can only receive this forgiveness
toward myself, wouldn’t I be able to freely offer it to others! I sit as if
chained in shackles when those shackles have been released! I stay as a caged
bird while the door is wide open and freedom one step away. Lord, help me
choose to walk in freedom rather than sit in a bondage I’ve been released from.
This word inheritance is different than the
one used in verse 14 and is the only time this word is used in the bible. It
refers to casting/determining by lots; receiving and inheritance; a private
possession we’ve already obtained. Because I am adopted, I am an heir of Christ
and a receiver of the inheritance. As the people of
Ephesus were growing rich making and selling idols of the goddess Diana, Paul
reminds the Christians that they have real, true riches. How easily I’m
deceived into coveting this world’s riches rather than embracing the heavenly
riches of my inheritance. Yes, oftentimes the ungodly prosper and seem to have
it all, but I must trust God’s will for my life. This trusting in Him brings praise
because this kind of trust makes no worldly sense and brings all the glory
of my life to Him alone. I must not just believe IN Him, but believe Him.
Faith comes
by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Rom 10:17). I heard, I trusted,
I believed,
I was SEALED by the Holy Spirit. This word ‘sealed’ is the same word
used in Matt 27:66 when the stone was sealed over Jesus’ tomb, in John6:27 God set a seal on Jesus, in Rev 7:3-8 the tribes and believers are sealed,
and my favorite Rev 20:3- God shuts up Satan in the bottomless pit and seals
him there. This is a mighty seal! The seal of the Holy Spirit I
have CANNOT be broken by Satan and it is secure until the time of REDEMPTION-
A releasing affected by payments of ransom. I am already redeemed, but there’s
more to come in my REDEMPTION! My redemption will be complete when I
am brought into perfection.
I am the PURCHASEDPOSSESSION! I was
purchased by Him and I belong to Him. This word means- a preserving; a
preservation. I am reminded of sealed canning jars. Don’t you just
love that ‘pop’ of those jars as they seal up one at a time? Such
satisfaction! What a picture of His satisfaction when we receive the Holy
Spirit and are SEALED- preserved, until the day that we are released from this
tent and brought into completed perfect redemption. The Holy Spirit
guarantees this! It’s like dumping that jar of pie filling into the crust.
Completed! Perfected! Finished!
And the result of ALL OF THIS- to the praise of His glory!
May He be praised and glorified through the work He does in this chosen,
holy, blameless, predestined, adopted, accepted, redeemed, forgiven, saved,
sealed, purchased possession of His! Wow! No, I will not try to fully
understand it all, but to fully believe it and walk in it J
This is what we woke to this morning. No it’s not much,
but we are hoping for more! Who doesn’t anticipate a day filled with snow? I
know my kids do, and I don’t think it’s just because they get to skip school
for a day. Yes, they enjoy standing under falling flakes, constructing snow
men, and taking advantage of the opportunity to throw frozen balls of ice at one
another’s face, while mom is totally ok with it. But what else is it about
snow?
Snow- it blankets the ground with cleanliness and purity. It
covers all the dirt, mud, muck, and grime that life leaves behind. What a
perfect glimpse of God’s holiness! What a wonderful picture of His righteousness
which covers our imperfections!
Just as He chose us before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before Him in love
-Ephesians 1:4
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become
the righteousness of God in Him.
-2
Corinthians 5:21
That He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot
or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
–Ephesians
5:27
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be
found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless
-2 Peter 3:14
Just as the snow eventually melts, reminding us again of the
filth surrounding us, our sins and failures can fill our thoughts, clouding the
truth of who we are before God. Let us be diligent to walk in the righteousness
we have in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We ARE white as snow. We
ARE blameless before God. We are set apart and sanctified.
When the enemy throws our sins before us, we CAN confidently throw the holiness
we have in Christ right back at him because we ARE clean, we
ARE washed, we ARE holy in Christ.
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship
with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all
sin.
Rejected. Disqualified. Undesirable. Unwanted. Lacking. Disappointing. Not good enough. Why, oh why am I here again? And so soon! Why do I continue to find my identity in things and other people? Why do I persist in setting myself up for failure and disappointment? My expectations are all wrong. I hate that I am dealing with this issue again. I am frustrated in myself for allowing it. Yet, here I am.
Truth is, I know God loves me unconditionally, and I think I know wholeheartedly that He has my best interest in mind. He’s not the one I doubt. It’s those around me that I struggle with. When others disappoint me, or when I feel like I have failed them, I KNOW without a doubt that I can rely on my trustworthy God. When I disappoint myself because I fail to meet my own expectations, He remains the same no matter my circumstances. This is what I will take comfort in, the sole thing that will keep me moving, keep me writing, and keep me grounded. I must keep my eyes on Him.
Once again I am soothed and reassured by the only One who really understands me. He reminds me that not only was He rejected, despised, misunderstood, and unwanted, but that He sufficiently fulfills all my needs and understands these struggles in my life because He encountered them Himself. Yet, He was without sin and blameless while I am sinful and full of blame. Even so, even as He sees my heart and my failures, He covers me with His unfailing love, compassion, kindness, and care.And this is where I will sit. This is what I will let devour me. I will wait here in this place until His perfect love consumes the rejection that eats me up. I will be still and allow His healing power to incinerate those desires and feelings in me that are not of Him. I am reminded of those words to the song and I cry out “empty me Lord, and fill me with You!”
You may not be aware of the fact that as I write, I pray that my words might comfort and encourage you. I pray that my words would be His words and He would speak into your situation and bring healing. What you also may not know is that He does that very thing with me. Just in this short amount of time I have spent here, talking with Him and sharing with you, a measure of grace is being poured out upon me and I am being restored. And I am thankful. I am thankful that He speaks to me, chastens me, gives me words to share, allows me to share with you, and restores and encourages me the whole time. I am unworthy, yes, but He is in the habit of using such as me. And I am humbled.
If you are burdened today, please allow yourself to be filled with the only One who truly fills. Be filled with Jesus and His unconditional, perfect love today.
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with
our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are,
yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the
Goodness, the longer I walk with Christ the more wretched I become. As our relationship grows more intimate, I seem to grow more selfish. How can this be? Shouldn’t I be more like my Savior every day? Shouldn’t I begin to bear His image, to walk as He walked? I want to offer you and myself an excuse. I would love to say that as I become more keenly aware of Christ’s perfect love and goodness, I also become more attentive to my own deficiencies, selfish ambitions, and sinful desires. And there may be some truth to that. Even so, there is no excusable reason for these thoughts and intents of my heart.
You see, lately I grow frustrated with baby Christians stepping up into ministries and godly areas I have strived so hard to serve in. I consider the numerous classes I’ve taken, bible studies I’ve participated in, groups I’ve been a part of, and just the little things I do regularly between only me and my Lord and I think, "What about me?." I observe these brand new believers receiving great opportunity in ministry, honor, glory, and a name for themselves. As if I were brother to the prodigal son, I cry out pridefully, "look, these many years I have been serving You; I never transgressed Your commandment at any time; and yet You never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of Yours came, who has devoured Your livelihood with harlots, You kill the fatted calf for him” (Lk 15:29-30). Let’s get one thing straight- I do not want a young goat or a fatted calf. However, I would be happily content with a clear, effective ministry, or some acknowledgement regarding the countless acts of service I have performed. Is this too much to ask for?
I am such an example of the vineyard workers complaining against the landowner after receiving a day’s wage, “These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of day” (Matt 20:12). Lord, it’s just not fair! It’s simply not done this way! How can you forget about all I’ve done? What about me?
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saves us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. –Titus 3:5
And then I am reminded of the thief on the cross. Even having reviled and mocked Jesus, our perfect Lord forgave this man, offering him salvation in the last moments of his life (Matt 27:44, Lk 23:39-43)). This thief reigns with Christ in Heaven today. This thief received Mercy and Grace from a dying Savior. I must understand this! The thief, after mocking Jesus Christ was granted Mercy (not receiving what he deserves ) and Grace (receiving what he don’t deserve). Rather than life separated from Christ for eternity, as I deserve, He has offered me something I could never earn, something I do not deserve, payment for my sins and eternity with Him. Mercy and Grace!
So with this difficult correcting from the Lord, with this revealing of my heart's selfish desire, comes thankfulness in that whom He loves He also chastens (Heb 12:5-6). I will receive this correction and most of all, I will receive this love. Rather than ask what about me I seek to ask what about Him?
This morning I read about the temptation of Jesus in Matthew chapter 4. The preceding chapter tells us that Jesus was baptized by a reluctant (who wouldn’t be) John the Baptist. As soon as Jesus came out of the water, the Spirit of God descended upon Him like a dove, and an audible voice spoke from heaven proclaiming “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt 3:13-17). What a glorious moment this must have been! I am constantly seeking to envision these events as exactly that, actual events; to see them as more than a simple ‘story’ from a book, but rather real life occurrences with real living people. When it comes to the life of Jesus however, it is the most daunting task because, well, He was and is not only Man but God. It doesn’t really get any more complicated than that. So, I am left struggling to relate to the life of this God-Man.
However, as I read this morning, I’m able to see some of my own circumstances and difficulties. It seems that immediately following this wondrous event, “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matt 4:1). What a way to ruin a perfectly wonderful day! Looking back on my own baptism years ago, I recall it being so foundational for me; knowing nothing of the scriptures, only that I desperately needed Christ, I came out of that water a changed child of God. There was no dove or audible voice from heaven, but the Spirit of God was active in my life, and has been ever since. I wish I could say I have walked in obedience to Him from that moment on, but no, I still am and always will be a work in progress. And His incessant message to me: YOU ARE MY BELOVED.
It wasn’t until I read this passage again this morning that I realized these are the exact words the Father said regarding His Son, “This is My beloved Son.”
Oh how often I need this reminder! Remind me again, Lord, remind me again! I can’t help but pay special attention to the fact that Satan tried desperately to make Jesus doubt who He was “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” And again “If you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down” (Matt 4:3,6). Now, I’m in no way implying Jesus ever doubted his identity as the Son of God, but there is no question Satan tried desperately to tempt Him into doing so. Likewise I have no doubt he tempts me in the same way and truth be told, he is quite successful at times.
How do I defeat my enemy in this battle? How do I proclaim victory from doubt? Exactly how Jesus did: with the Word of God. There it is again, the Word of God. Are you growing weary yet? Have I frustrated you into deleting my web address so you never have to endure this again? God is urgently trying to speak to one of us, and I presume it must be YOU! (Just kidding! Please know I never share something He is not actively striving to teach me. I suspect I gain substantially more from my ramblings than you do!) Jesus combated Satan’s lies with scripture “It is written” “It is written” “It is written” (Matt 4:4,7,10). Do you know what is written? When Satan says you are not God’s, can you swing that sword, confidently proclaiming “Away with you, Satan! It is written that I have been redeemed! It is written that I have been called by name! It is written that I am a child of God!” (Isa 43:1)? Lord, I pray You would grant us strength to live according to the example of Jesus Christ. Amen.
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we
Last night my family read and meditated on Genesis Chapter 45.Here we see Joseph finally reveal his identity to the brothers standing before him. Overcome with love and a longing to know the welfare of his family, Joseph asks about his father Israel, or shall we call him Jacob… The final two verses in this chapter reveal the complexity of the father of 12. “But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived. Then Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.” (Gen 45:27-28) You see, Jacob was a cheat, a liar, a deceiver, the list goes on.One night, God not only meets Jacob, but physically wrestles with him.The deceptive cheat that he is, Jacob does not give up the fight and the scripture says, “[God] saw that He did not prevail against him” and therefore knocked Jacob’s hip socket out of joint (Gen 32:25). After some pleading and begging on Jacob’s part to be blessed, God grants him a new name: Israel. Overnight the man is transformed from a dirty, rotten, no good liar, into a Prince with God! Or is he? Time and again I have questioned why this man, after receiving his new name is sometimes referred to by that new name, and other times simply recognized again as the old Jacob.When God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, he was never again known by the old man Abram.Nor was Sarah called Sarai or Paul called Saul. So I ask the question: why Jacob?
Maybe we need to ask ourselves this same question.Have we received a new name as a child of God?Has He wiped away the old woman and resurrected in us a new identity?If the answer is yes, then He has triumphantly prevailed in our lives. However, what if our situation resembles Jacob’s: one minute known as Jacob, the next as Israel; one minute wallowing in sorrow, pain, self-pity, and unbelief, the next minute standing in confidence of God’s work, only to turn back in doubt, frustration, and fear? The scripture says God did not prevail against Jacob, Jacob prevailed (Gen 32:25,28). Has God prevailed in your life?Has God prevailed in mine?
God tells me He loves me and He says I am His beloved.Do you see this? Beloved = BeLoved!To be His beloved, I must be loved!I must receive His love and so walk in it (Rom 6:4). As I take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:5), casting aside the strongholds and lies of Satan which tell me I am stupid, fat, ugly, incapable, unworthy, and UNLOVED, then and only then do I begin to walk in my new identity.So today I choose to cast aside the old me and put on the new me. Today I am the Beloved!
My husband and I have two children.Two children who, many have insisted, remarkably resemble us both. If we were to test their DNA, there would be no doubt they were our children.They share most of our characteristics: nose, eyes, round cheeks, height (or lack thereof), and sometimes even our competitive nature and stubbornness. They are obviously the offspring of their parents; however they are equally their own people.In as much as they bear the resemblance of us, they are just as different in appearance and personality.Whether we produced two children or twenty, each would be unique inside and out. Before men and women ever bore children, before babies were delivered and parents looked in admiration at such miracles, God created man (men and women) in his own image.Just as our children starkly reflect us, we are a reflection of our Creator. You can say that we possess His DNA.Yet, in all His creation He designed each and every one of us uniquely. There is not one individual who ever lived or ever will live on this earth with your exact facial structure, with your exact build, with your exact DNA, with your exact fingerprint. Out of the billions of individuals designed and created by God, not one is the same as another.All are created with the same basic facial structure yet all are individually recognizable. This is astounding!This is incomprehensible!This is, in the words of the Creator, “very good.” As I meditate and reflect upon this, I am captivated by the creativity and attentiveness God imparts to each and every individual child of His.Because I am His, I bear His image.I bear His likeness. I bear His characteristics.He is my daddy, I His daughter. He is my Creator; I am the fingerprint of God, and there is no other fingerprint like me. As a child’s hand leaves smeared prints on glass, so my print is left wherever I venture.Whatever or whomever I touch is left with my fingerprint. In a world of fingerprints, there is none like mine!I envision my Father’s excitement looking about, identifying each and every fingerprint I have left behind, each and every life I have touched. My jealous, passionate Father, keeping close eyes on my every move, whispers, “This is My beloved.”
