VERSE: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
— Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV
God made you…To be you! He wants you to make a difference in His Kingdom. For this reason, He has equipped you with special gifts and talents that are unique to you!
The only way you can realize them is when you choose to be yourself. This is why you pause and ask yourself, “WHO AM I?”
It is the hardest thing to figure out but when you do, you will find the treasure of a joyful life. Here is a hint, YOUR REAL SELF is not your church self, public self or professional self. I MEAN YOU!!! It is the part you’ve learn to hide, the part that makes you unique.
Knowing who you are and where you belong is SO IMPORTANT. There’s a place we belong. And a place we don’t belong.
Let us seek His Word to see who you are, YOU ARE HIS HANDIWORK, a living, breathing and thinking individual who has a very special purpose in life.
So why are so many of us feeling lost? There is no feeling that is worse than the feeling of being lost and forgotten. Since the beginning of time, mankind has been wandering and struggling to create an identity for ourselves. Some have built great pyramids, others have fabulous works of art and literature. While few find meaning and purpose in ordinary life, there is good news. For those who are still struggling to know who you are and your role in life, there is good news. The Bible tells us: God made us in His image and He made it clear that He hasn’t created us to spite us or tolerate us - He created us with joy and celebrates us.
Though each one of our individual’s special gifts and talents vary, we were created to:
A. We are created to bring Him joy.
Isaiah 61:3 says He will provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
Think about it….
1. Beauty instead of Ashes.
2. Joy instead of Mourning.
3. Praise instead of despair.
WE ARE PLANTED AS THE TREE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. Not trees trying to be righteous, but firm like trees, planted so we main remain steadfast and He may be glorified.
2 Corinthians 5:21 21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
B. We were called to be in His family.
1 John 3: 1 - “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”
I love being called a child of God. We are all part of the same family.
REMEMBER…FAMILY SELDOM GETS ALONG!!!!
Family’s fight…grips…divide split. WE WERE CALLED TO IN HIS FAMILY!
Every family is dysfunctional.
1. Bear one another’s burden (Galatians 6:2)
2. Be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32)
3. Encourage one another daily (Hebrews 3:13)
4. Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
5. Forgive one another (Colossians 3:13)
How can we NOT forgive…When forgiveness is so vital Christian life?
C. We are changing to be like Jesus.
Ephesians 4: “Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
Genesis says...”We were made in the image and likeness of God.”
God planned on us being like Him from the beginning
I want to know, I’m better today than I was yesterday. I’ll only hope to be better tomorrow. Until we become our best selves and that can be achieved when we look like Him.
Take every chance you get to show God you are His child, to walk in His ways, to love others like He does and forgive them as He forgave you.
Even when no one sees your action, God sees...Be like Jesus, His beloved Son. Embrace the opportunity to gather, worship and encourage each other. Rather then finding reasons to stay away from people, find a reason to be there for them and comfort them.
It’s a lot harder to life as a Christian…than it is to call oneself as a Christian.
We’ve met a lot of self-proclaiming Christians but we seldom find those who are practicing Christians, the ones who love and forgive others freely, and choose to walk in His ways. Friends, we all have this Purpose in Him — He has given us a path to walk on with clear instructions. He has assured us of His loving grace upon us when we fall. And, above all, He gives us strength when we have none. Our purpose is to live life in Him, for Him and through Him.
Would you pray with me? “Holy Father, thank you for creating me in your image. Thank you for imparting your wisdom and grace upon me. Thank you for giving me this purpose in my life, the purpose of sharing the good news with others and being there for them when they are in need. Lord, I ask you to strengthen my heart so that I can bear their burdens and give me words of kindness so that they may heal them. Lord, bless my family and friends and all those who are dong their best to follow you — encourage them by allowing them to feel your presence and you have graced me with yours. In thy holiest name, Yeshua Messiah, I pray. AMEN.
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