As we continue to consider ways we mask or cover our true identity in Christ, I pray you are being challenged, encouraged, and empowered to be what God has made you to be and not anything less.
The 3rd night of this series we looked at FAMILY...
Families are great...or they should be. Unfortunately not everyone has a great family experience. Anything less than great could mean that parent are separated or divorced, it could mean that one or the other parent might show favorites to a particular child or no child, it could mean that parents are over protective so kids don't learn from failures or mistakes, it could mean that parents spoil there kids and give them everything that is new under the sun, it could mean that siblings treat each other terrible, it could mean that drugs are involved and cause hurts (yes I did not say alcohol because it IS A DRUG! Why do we separate them?), it could mean that little brother or little sister is always in the shadow of big brother or big sister, it could mean that kids are not ever taught how to read their Bible or to pray form their parent, it could mean that kids are punished by not being allowed to attend church events, it could mean that kids are held accountable to their studies at school but never questioned about their Time With God and what God is teaching them, it could mean that kids are taught the value of being religious and never taught the value of know God and loving God and being the Church, NOT BEING PART OF A GREAT FAMILY...IT COULD MEAN A LOT OF THINGS!
Here's the deal...your family is the one association you have no control of landing in. Think about it, God drops us where He drops us. I had no control of being the second son to Stanley and Jayne Dunkle of Etowah Tennessee. I had no control over how my parents lived their life in front of me while I grew up, ever how good or how bad that might have been. I had no control over the way my parents disciplined me or did not disciplined me. I had no control over how my parents emphasized loving God with all that I am or not doing that.
Here's my point...Your family can not be what you allow your identity to be! No matter how great or how bad your family is! Your identity is found in Christ Jesus alone, if you have received the gift God wants to give you.
In Mark 6:1-6 and in Matthew 13:53-58 we see Jesus go back to his hometown. In these accounts the question is raised, (Mark 6:2-3) "When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. 'Where did this man get these things?' they asked. 'What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?' And they took offense at him."
In John 6:25-70 Jesus is making some hard statements that people could not handle. In the middle of this (Verse 41) we read, "At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, 'I am the bread that came down form heaven.' They said, 'Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down form heaven'?"
Jesus knew his identity! He knew his earthly family, but he knew his identity did not ultimately rest in them.
Student...do you know your identity does not rest in your family?
Parents...do you understand that your child's identity does not land with your last name if they have receive that gift of God, that is Christ Jesus?
Are we all o.k. with that?
Talk as a family and identify things that need to change in order for all members of the family to live in the identity God has given them.
Allow God to examine the identity that your family has in the community you live in. Does you family show that Christ is the most important thing in the way you...treat your neighbors? ...love each other in the yard? ...in the priorities of life? ...in how you pray as a family? ...in how you do Christmas and Easter? ...in how you _____________________?
Let our families live in the Identity of Christ Jesus our Lord, for the Glory of God to reach every tongue, tribe, people and nation of the world!
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