Who Do You Think You Are?
Ephesians 1:5 “He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”
We’ve done a podcast, several, on adoption, but that was to tell our stories of foster care, raise awareness, and how some of us adopted our children.
This devotional is to explain some of these key scriptures that tell us who we are.
Just like most people when someone asks about me I’ll give my name, occupation, or some accolades that will hopefully make me look good. The fact that I’m a military veteran, or I’m good at fitness, or I love golfing doesn’t describe who I am. Most of you will agree with that, but you do the same thing. At the end of the day what are you? Who are you?
Are you a father?
Are you a soldier?
Are you a business tycoon?
Are you a firefighter, teacher, or police officer?
You may be all of those things, but at it’s core as a Christian man what are you?
YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD!
Adopted into God's family through Christ Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross!
With that in mind, how many of us have a longing for impressing our earthly fathers?
Most of us I would assume. It’s a common thing to want to hear your dad say “Im proud of you”
The same goes for our Heavenly Father. I hear pastors say it all the time. “When I die I want to hear well done my good and faithful servant”
It’s God given to feel that way.
If you looked at your week so far would he say well done? The past month? This year?
I know he wouldn’t say it to me. Despite how much good I think I do, recording podcast, studying, time with my kids and wife, putting out content for men’s ministry, or preparing for the next fort iron retreat I can honestly say I could’ve done more.
As long as we can say we could’ve done more I don’t think I deserve to hear “well done”.
My challenge to you is simple.
Evaluate what you’re doing for the eternal kingdom, and see where you can improve.
You are a child of God, and your adoption fees have been paid at the highest of prices so start honoring it with your words, actions, and deeds.
Throughout the New Testament it talks of our identity as adoptive sons. It's time we show how thankful, and grateful we are to be accepted in this new family, and stop acting like brats who think God owes us something. You deserve death, but you were given life
“to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
Galatians 4:5 CSB
“For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!””
Romans 8:15 CSB
“See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children — and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him.”
1 John 3:1 CSB
“In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,”
Ephesians 1:11 CSB
These verses and more spell out who we are. It’s time we lean into, and pursue our true identities.
So Who do you think you are?