It got me thinking about identity, God’s as well as mine. His identity involves how He sees me, cares for me, provides for me, speaks to me, and makes sure I see where He has taken me.

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Jesus is the Lamb that was slain, so our sins are forgiven.  That’s a lot of trouble to go to, so I could have a relationship with him.

“No greater love than this, one who lays down His life for His friends.” God is love, after all.

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“God loves me, this I know, ‘cause the Bible tells me so,” as the children’s worship song says (which I didn’t learn until I was an adult!). I think it’s time for me to shed my guilt.

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I read in a morning devotion, “You Are More Than You’ve Been Told” by Hosanna Wong, nine points to help with my guilt-be-gone identity overhaul as a child of God. Here’s a quick list of truths I need to grab onto:

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1. Friend of God — Jesus calls us His friends. (John 15:15)  How awesome is that?!

2. Chosen — God loves me and chose me to be His own person. (1 Thessalonians 1:4) Hearts for days…

3. God’s Masterpiece— “You are the handiwork of the Artist of the heavens and the earth. Your details are important,” Wong wrote. I love that so much. (Ephesians 2:10)

4. Temple— If we have received Christ, our bodies are a temple, the place where the Holy Spirit dwells. That makes our bodies good and important. I needed this point a lot as someone who feels physically down on herself. (1 Corinthians 6:19)  

5. Messenger—Since we are witnesses of the love and power of Jesus, God calls us to share the gospel with the people in our proximity. What an honor that is! (Acts 1:8)

6. Child of God—  I love  the Amplified Bible translation of Galatians 3:26 that talks about who we are in God and part of that is the fact that God has a purpose for us with more blessings: “For you [who are born-again have been reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified and] are all children of God [set apart for His purpose with full rights and privileges] through faith in Christ Jesus.”

7. Greatly Loved— We may say it often, and hear it a lot in church, but we should never take for granted that God so greatly loves us. Even before we knew Him, Christ died for us. Again, there’s that trouble thing that He enjoys! (Romans 5:8)

8. Free, Indeed—There may be many things that “chain” or bind us that are lies. For me, it’s guilt, as I mentioned before. But it is a lie. Christ has made us free, so we should live as if we were. (John 8:36)

9. Brand New—I was blessed to ask Christ into my heart as an adult, after years of searching for a purpose in my life. I remember what it’s like to feel brand new. I was baptized as a small child, but I don’t really remember it. When I chose to get baptized as an adult, I remember as I came up out of the water, I heard a voice in my spirit declare “NEW!” I told God I never want to forget what it was like before I was saved, before Jesus made me new. Reborn. Such a blessing. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

 

There’s so much more in life as one of God’s children. I printed this list out and pinned it to my bulletin board near my desk.

God gives so much. He gave us His only begotten Son out of love for the whole world, so whoever believes in Him would be saved and given an incredible life to discover. That sounds like the kind of trouble He enjoys. God is the best.

Blessings to you!

 

Angela Dolbear is the author of contemporary Christian novels, such as THE GARDEN KEY Series and THE TORMENTOR’S TALE, as well as many short stories. She just completed the fourth book in The Garden Tales series, “The Mid-Century Breakfast Club,” and is searching for representation for it.  Her novels are available on Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook formats. Angela writes real, relatable, and reverent fiction. She loves reading, writing prose, and writing and recording music in her studio in Nashville, TN—listen to her latest album STORMS on your favorite music streaming service.  Please drop by and sign up for news, read the latest stories, and hear new original music at http://www.angeladolbear.com/subscribe.htm.