I AM MY FATHER’S CHILD
Daphne Powell
Today's Scripture: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10, ESV
Theme: Our identity doesn’t come from what we’ve done or will do. It comes from our Creator.
YOUR IDENTITY
In the movie “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” you see that everyone is wearing a uniform. From that uniform, you know who they are, which side they are on, and some of their identity. God, our Father has also given us an identity. The question is, do we wear it and are we able to see who else is wearing it?
SPIRITUAL GIFTS
God gave each of us a gift, to serve the Church, the Body of Christ, in a variety of ways and to minister to a variety of people. When we fully embrace the gifts we have been given, we can go out and do His will. Our talents and service will show His principles. He will not give us a gift that we cannot be successful in using or that doesn’t point people to who He is.
ARMOR
We are also given weapons and armor. How do we fight against the worldly sins? We must put on the full armor of God. Can you imagine a soldier heading into battle without their helmet, missing a shin cover, missing a breastplate? Do you expect they would march forth with confidence? This is what the armor does: it allows us to go into battle with confidence, both the enemy and us knowing our identity.
HOLY SPIRIT
When we go to God in our brokenness, we need the Holy Spirit. When we get on our knees and pray to God, He sees and hears the Holy Spirit within us. The Spirit is a seal that identifies us as His child and a Jesus follower.
DISCERNMENT
In this world, you often see a bumper sticker, proclaiming the church this family attends. Maybe you see the cross chain around their neck or the WWJD t-shirt. We think that by these displays, we know their identity. But God wants to transform our inner being and our actions: our soul, our love for our neighbor, and the grace and mercy we extend to a stranger. We must walk the talk.
Make It Personal: Some mornings, I wake up and wonder if God is proud of the person I am. Do I honor Him? When I meet people, will they see Him? I want people to see Him without me even announcing it; I want my armor to speak for me! I pray that every day I get closer rather than further from Him.
Pray: Lord, today I pray that I walk with the Holy Spirit, that I put on my armor, and that I use my spiritual gift for Your glory and honor. Amen.
Read: 1 Peter 4:10; I Corinthians 12:10; Romans 12:6, Ephesians 6:10-18; Romans 8:26-28, 12:2
Weekly Memory Verse: “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’” 1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)