3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Jn 3). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
Abba,
Our identity; our worth; our purpose and meaning…these are things that can only be found in You, our maker and creator, our God and Savior, our Father and friend. No matter how successful we are; no matter how talented; how good looking; how popular; how good or righteous; how confident and bold…none of this can give us a sense of identity. Careers come and go. Sad as it is, relationships come and go. Abilities fade and pass away. Success can be lost far quicker than it is found. If we look to these things to give us a sense of identity, of value, of worth…we look to inferior and inadequate sources.
The truth and power of 1 John 3 is that our identity is found in being Your children! We have been adopted, taken from a kingdom of darkness, hopelessness, and death, and brought into Your family, into the kingdom of light, adopted as full children with all the rights and privileges therein, and made to have a HOME with you. Our identity is not in our ability, skill, success, likeability, or anything else. It is found in this truth….YOU CHOSE US and MADE US YOUR OWN. You WANTED us and chose to make us part of your family forever. My identity…our identity…WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD. This is the only truth worth boasting in, worth proclaiming. It is the only thing that cannot be stripped away from us.
This identity ought, then, to shape our desires, motives, and actions. It ought to be reflected in the actions and work of our lives. When I am secure in my worth in you…I will walk in righteousness despite the pressures and influences exerted on me to forsake the narrow path. When I am secure in my worth and value in you, in my identity in you; when we are; we will live out of that identity and it will show vividly to everyone who witnesses our lives. Our lives will be righteous because we will be living out of a secure relationship with you. Abba, oh that we would live like this as your people. That we would fix our identity and worth in this truth…YOU LOVE US AND ADOPTED AS YOUR OWN. May that truth change everything about us…that which we find important, valued, and worthy of our time and attention.
Thank you for giving me an identity far greater than I could ever give to myself. Thank you for giving US as your body an identity far greater than anyone or anything else could give to us. Help us to rest, secure, hopeful and confident in that identity and walk daily in accordance with that the identity to the praise of Your name and the good of Your body.
We love you, Abba! Amen.
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Jn 3). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
Abba,
Our identity; our worth; our purpose and meaning…these are things that can only be found in You, our maker and creator, our God and Savior, our Father and friend. No matter how successful we are; no matter how talented; how good looking; how popular; how good or righteous; how confident and bold…none of this can give us a sense of identity. Careers come and go. Sad as it is, relationships come and go. Abilities fade and pass away. Success can be lost far quicker than it is found. If we look to these things to give us a sense of identity, of value, of worth…we look to inferior and inadequate sources.
The truth and power of 1 John 3 is that our identity is found in being Your children! We have been adopted, taken from a kingdom of darkness, hopelessness, and death, and brought into Your family, into the kingdom of light, adopted as full children with all the rights and privileges therein, and made to have a HOME with you. Our identity is not in our ability, skill, success, likeability, or anything else. It is found in this truth….YOU CHOSE US and MADE US YOUR OWN. You WANTED us and chose to make us part of your family forever. My identity…our identity…WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD. This is the only truth worth boasting in, worth proclaiming. It is the only thing that cannot be stripped away from us.
This identity ought, then, to shape our desires, motives, and actions. It ought to be reflected in the actions and work of our lives. When I am secure in my worth in you…I will walk in righteousness despite the pressures and influences exerted on me to forsake the narrow path. When I am secure in my worth and value in you, in my identity in you; when we are; we will live out of that identity and it will show vividly to everyone who witnesses our lives. Our lives will be righteous because we will be living out of a secure relationship with you. Abba, oh that we would live like this as your people. That we would fix our identity and worth in this truth…YOU LOVE US AND ADOPTED AS YOUR OWN. May that truth change everything about us…that which we find important, valued, and worthy of our time and attention.
Thank you for giving me an identity far greater than I could ever give to myself. Thank you for giving US as your body an identity far greater than anyone or anything else could give to us. Help us to rest, secure, hopeful and confident in that identity and walk daily in accordance with that the identity to the praise of Your name and the good of Your body.
We love you, Abba! Amen.
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