PLEASE NOTICE A BRIEF REQUEST AT THE THE END OF THE DEVOTIONAL
Spiritual growth rests upon the potential God offers you.
“If you are content to be yourself, your life will count for plenty.”
Matthew 23:12 The Message.
My y thoughts and comments today are about,“Image and Identity.’
I mage and identity can be easily confused. They are far from synonymous. Image is how you project yourself for others to think you are. Identity is what you are and truly know who you are in God. Jesus warned, ”For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12 NIV. Such a moment will reassure or reveal your reality.
What others believe about you is valuable, but their opinions are of lesser significance than what God expects of you. It isn’t so bad when you are unsure of other people’s real identity. But if unsure of who you are, that’s a problem. A healthy sense of identity is encouraging.
The Bible gives this wise counsel, “Do you want to stand out? Then sit down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you will get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.” Matthew 23:12 The Message.
Humble yourself and trust God to exalt you. “Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you.” Romans 12:3 NLT. God knows exactly who you are now, and a has a true understanding of the unimagined potential you have in Christ.
You usually have an estimate only; so be honest about yourself and gracious about others. People seem inclined to an extreme measurement, either creating a false exaggeration of their own importance, or self-imposing a devalued estimation of themself. Neither would be accurate.
James, the brother of Jesus, described people as, “like a man observing his natural face in a mirror, for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” James 1:23-24 NKJV. James described such a person as observing, then forgetting his own reflection. Such an assumption is without regard for the original God designed them to be. “If you are content to be yourself, your life will count for plenty. ”Matthew 23:12 The Message.
I am assured by this Bible verse: “As many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become the children of God, to those who believe in His name.” John 1:12 NKJ. Imagine! “The children of God.” God offers you the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit to enable all He predestined you to become.
That’s what I need. That’s what I want. Everything about our journey of spiritual growth rests upon the holy potential God offers. It is not so much about who you are presently. Who you are now and where you are now is just the starting point from which God begins your transformative journey. ”Put on your new nature and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.” Colossians 3:10 NLT.
Be yourself. That is who God made you to be. God says we are, “children of God, an heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ.” Romans 8:16-17 NKJV. Being a copy of other people never works out well. Don’t settle for being a cheap copy of anyone rather than the original that God made you to become. It takes courage to be yourself, but your life will count greatly.
My prayer for you today is to allow God to shape who you become.
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