"Spiritual DNA"

Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. (John 14:9) 

When you were a child, someone may have told you, “You’re the spitting image of your dad.” Or “Your eyes remind me so much of your mother’s.” Or maybe you heard “You have your father’s laugh” or “You have your mother’s nose.” These remarks reflect the truth that we don’t just pop into the world as completely independent beings. We inherit our physical makeup from our parents. Even in the case of someone who has never met our family, there’s still some truth to the fact that when they meet us, they are meeting our parents as well. 

If this is true about human parents and children, imagine how much more it is for Jesus and his heavenly Father! He even says as much in today’s Gospel: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). All of his Father’s love and power were wrapped up in everything Jesus said and did.

Now for the really good news: because the Spirit lives within us, we too are infused with God’s love and power. We are sons and daughters of God who carry our Father’s “spiritual DNA.” Of course, like any other child, we still have to grow into our inheritance. But isn’t it wonderful to know we have all the tools we need to do just that?

You are a child of God. Hold on to this truth every day—especially when you are confronted with sin and weakness. Remember the goodness that your Father has placed in you when you are reminded of your failings. Remember that you have been filled with divine grace to help you live a holy life. Remember who you are—and whose you are. [Emphasis mine]

When you have an impossible deadline at work, remember Jesus, who persevered through long days of ministry. Ask for his strength to carry on. When you are offended and want to retaliate, remember Jesus, who silently endured the cross. Ask the Spirit for his patience and compassion. When you want to offer to pray with a friend but feel afraid, remember your heavenly brothers and sisters, the saints. Let their boldness embolden you. Who knows? Before the day is over, someone might say, “You know, I see something different in you. What could it be?” 

“Father, may I reflect your presence within me today.” 

from wau.org

Chosen, Beloved, Child

Let us build ourselves . . . a tower with its top in the sky, and so make a name for ourselves. (Genesis 11:4)

Did you know that the tower in this story sounds very much like the ancient ziggurats that dotted the Mesopotamian landscape? These elaborate pagan monuments stretched as high as three hundred feet into the sky. Some of them still stand today as testimonies to the creativity of the people who built them. So why did God object when the people of Babel built their tower? What was so bad about using their skill to craft a magnificent structure? 

Of course God wants us to use our talents to create new and beautiful things—he applauds that, in fact. The problem was that the people were concerned with making “a name” for themselves (Genesis 11:4). Why would they do such a thing when God already had a name for them? He had created them, formed them, and protected them. They already had a dignity and identity that far outstripped any other name they could come up with. 

God has a name for you too—one that reflects your place in his heart. Actually, he has more than one name.

Chosen. You are not an accident. God chose to create you with all your unique quirks and talents. Every day, he continues to choose you by inviting you to be with him. So believe that you are Chosen, not rejected. 

Beloved. God loves you with a deep and abiding love. He loves you not because you are perfect, but because you are his own. He delights in you and sees the goodness he has created in you. So believe that you are Beloved, not forgotten. 

Child. This might be the best name of all. You belong. You are part of his family. He is committed to you just as a Father is committed to his children. You are never alone. So believe that you are a Child of God, not an orphan. 

You don’t have to make a name for yourself. Your identity is wrapped up in who God has made you to be, not in the things you achieve. You are his chosen, his beloved, his child. Today in prayer, choose one of these names. Repeat it to yourself, thanking God and saying, over and over, “You call me ____________.” 

“Father, thank you for giving me a name that can never be taken from me.”

from wau.org

Know who you are

I saw One like a son of man. (Daniel 7:13)

If you’ve studied history, you know that the authority held by a monarch is meant to be passed down from one ruler to the next, not taken by force. This transfer of power typically happens in a coronation ceremony. In many cultures, the coronation ceremony reflects the belief that the power to rule comes from God—or at least from a source higher than the people themselves. Here in Daniel, we see the ultimate coronation. The figure of “the son of man” receives “dominion, glory, and kingship” from none other than his heavenly Father (Daniel 7:13, 14). 

Daniel’s author saw this “son of man” as an apocalyptic ruler who would bring justice to the earth. With Spirit-inspired hindsight, we know him as Jesus, who has power over all creation (Ephesians 1:21-22). Contrast Jesus’ power with that of the four beasts that preceded him in Daniel’s vision. These four animals signified the empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. In spite of their great might, these dynasties eventually crumbled. Like many governments, they fell because their rulers became greedy and tyrannical, caring more about their influence than about their subjects. Clearly, that’s not how Jesus rules his people!

What about us? We are “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). That means we share in Jesus’ authority; we can build his kingdom here on earth! It’s a high calling, and with it comes a high dignity. Filled with the power of the Spirit, we can do even greater things than Jesus himself did (John 14:12)!

Today and every day, remember who you are in Christ. United with him, you can be an agent of change in your family, workplace, and community. You have the mind of Christ, so you can bring wisdom where there is confusion and comfort where there is anxiety. You have the anointing of Christ, so you can bring healing, love, and mercy where there is hatred and division. Put yourself in his hands today, and call on his power to help you live a life pleasing to him. Then you will become a sign that “the Kingdom of God is near” (Luke 21:31).

“Lord, thank you that you have made me a little lower than the angels! May I never forget that I carry your name. Help me to shine your light into every situation.”

from wau.org

A gift to Jesus

Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me. (John 6:37)

Did you catch that?

The Father is giving you to Jesus. If you think that statement is meant to be little more than an empty platitude, say it again slowly. Focus on each word, and let them settle deep in your heart. You are a gift that God the Father is giving to Jesus. What does this say about you?

The Father is giving you to Jesus. Well, for one, this says that no matter how your days feel—holy, humdrum, or harried—each one of them is filled with divine opportunities. You’re not just a spectator in life. You are an important actor in a great cosmic drama. What’s more, you have been infused with the life and power of the Trinity, with all you need to play your part in this drama.

The Father is giving you to Jesus. A loving, generous God like your heavenly Father would never dream of giving a cheap gift to his Son! This can only mean that you are very valuable. You’re a masterpiece, a crown of his creation. No cost was too high to pay for you. It also means that God will never revoke your worth. He is completely invested in you. In fact, you are his treasure. He rejoices over you with exuberant, loud singing (Zephaniah 3:17)! It’s not based on how you do each day; it’s based on who you are.

The Father is giving you to Jesus. As a gift to the Lord, your life has been set apart, or made holy. Every day you have a divinely appointed purpose. The Father is giving you to Jesus so that you can give Jesus to the people around you. And you can do that simply by the witness of your life—by living for Christ as the gift that you are.

Today, keep this in mind: you are a special, unique person created by God. There is no one like you. You are a special treasure. You have a divine purpose!

“Lord, I come to you today knowing that you will never reject me. As you gave yourself to me, I give my life to you.”

from wau.org

Who am I?

If you are the Son of God … (Matthew 4:3)

Imagine if Jesus came up to you today, embraced you, and said, “You are my greatest treasure!” Wouldn’t you be shocked and speechless? Well, during this Lenten season, you will have numerous opportunities for this to happen. Day after day, in prayer and in the Scriptures, you will have the chance to let Jesus show you your true dignity and identity as his beloved brother or sister. 

In today’s Gospel, we read how Satan tried to get Jesus to question his identity. He prefaced his temptations by saying, “If you are the Son of God …” He knew that if Jesus became unsure of his Father’s love and wisdom, it was much more likely that he would walk away from the plan God had laid out for him. But Satan’s plan didn’t work. Jesus knew who he was, and he clung to the word of God so that he could stay focused on his Father.

God wants you to stand firm on the truth just as Jesus did. He wants to convince you that you belong to him. He wants to make it clear that he is completely committed to you. It sounds easy, doesn’t it? But we all can point to ways that the devil tries to knock us off our foundation in Christ. There seems to be no end to his attempts to discourage us and trap us in our fears and weaknesses so that we won’t bother to pray.

When these temptations come, follow Jesus’ example, and hold on to Scripture. You are God’s child, born of the incorruptible seed of his own word (1 Peter 1:23). You are part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation (2:9). You have been made alive with Jesus (Ephesians 2:5) and set free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). Your heavenly Father will supply all your needs out of the riches of his own glory (Philippians 4:19).

There are so many promises. Hold on to them! Believe them—and watch the devil flee! 

“Thank you, Lord, for claiming me as your own!”

taken from wau.org

This piece reminds me of a song by Casting Crowns, on the same subject: