Today’s devotion is based on Week 2 of “Resolve”: Live Your Baptism Identity! (WATCH HERE)
54 years ago today, the doctor in the hospital in Watertown, SD said to my parents, “It’s a boy!” I’m not sure how many times the doctor that helped bring me into this world said this to parents, but each baby he gave birth to, was not his. I was just “a boy’ to the doctor, but to my parents, I was THEIR son.
To have parents who claim you as their own and love you is a blessing. To have parents that are proud of you is a gift. These positive influences form a big part of your identity as you are growing up.
Ten days after receiving the identity of being the son of Gerald and Carol,, on January 24, 1971 I was given a new identity that is more important and significant than any identity parents can give you. In fact, it is an identity that can overcome the challenges of an identity that comes from people and events we encounter in years of life. It’s an identity that comes from our heavenly Father when he puts his name on us at our baptism.
It is similar to Jesus at his baptism, when the Father said:
And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son,whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:23)
To the people around, it was clear who Jesus was – the Son of God. The Father wanted all to know not only the identity of his Son, but that he was well pleased with him. He was the perfect Son of God.
To be sure, none of us can claim to be THE Son of God, but in our baptism we are given the gift of forgiveness. With our sins paid for on the cross, we stand perfect before the Lord because of Jesus’ perfect life and innocent death for us. The Father is well pleased with us too!
Our God-given identity tells us how God thinks of us. We are his children, loved by him and because of Jesus, he is well-pleased with us. This reality is a gift to combat the lies of Satan that come into our ears and lead us to believe that we are not loved, not wanted, and can do nothing that is a benefit to others. These negative identity statements can become part of our belief system and challenge us throughout our lives.. So we have to ask, “Are these the words of the Father who loves us or Satan who wants to lie to us?” The answer is clear. Anything that leads us to believe that we are not loved or valuable is not of God. On the other hand, the Father calls us his own. We are his children and dearly loved.
I am grateful for the 54 years of life God has granted me and a wonderful family around me to affirm me with their love and care. I also give tremendous thanks to the Lord for the identity he has given to me in my baptism.
I am his son, whom he loves, with me he is well pleased.
And that’s a gift worth living each day!
Apply: What makes up your identity? What happens when God’s Words to you in your baptism become more real? You are his son/daughter, whom he loves, and with you he is well-pleased!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for securing my identity with all you did to live a perfect life and take my sins to the cross. Give me the ability to live each day in the identity you won for me and gave to me, AMEN.