A few months ago, my cousin graduated from army basic training.  He graduated at an army base that was only 2 hours from my house.  This provided a great opportunity to get together with out-of-state family.  There were six of us in attendance; my parents, my cousin’s parents, my younger son, and me. 

Everyone was excited and dressed up for the occasion.  My father, a retired army colonel, was decked out in his best uniform.  We drove on base and eventually found a parking spot.  There was a long line of people waiting for the doors to open.  My mom wasn’t dressed for the cold so we waited in the warm minivan.

Eventually, my family joined the line.  As we approached the doorway, I realized that finding six seats together would be a challenge.  Two military personnel greeted guests as they entered the building.  They immediately noticed my dad walk through the door.  He had their full attention.  It was obvious they were not expecting to host a colonel.  Quickly, they approached my father and officially greeted him.  One said, “Do you have seats, sir?  We have seats for you, sir.”  Then the one who spoke turned to the other and whispered, “Get them seats, now!”  A moment later all six of us were escorted down to the front, to the second row.

There were still a few minutes before the ceremony began.  Several officers approached my father to welcome him.  It was quite a showing, so much so, that my aunt and I caught people taking pictures of my dad.  It caused us quite a few giggles. 

That day, I was the daughter of the colonel.  Because I was with him, I was treated with honor and respect.  I had done nothing to gain such status, but my father had.  My identity was viewed through him.

Each follower of Christ is a child of the King.  That is who we are, but do you believe it?  Although we are bombarded with views on what to think about ourselves, it all boils down to two voices:  the world’s and God’s. 

What does the world say about you?  Its voice is rather hopeless.  The world views individuals as expendable, never enough, and undesirable.  What does God say about you?  He calls you His child, a sweet fragrance, holy, a saint, His temple, and loved.  So tell me, who’s voice do you listen to and therefore believe?

What we believe is of utmost importance because it determines how we will act.

To maintain a healthy perspective in many aspects of life, there needs to be tension, a balancing point between two opposites.  Let’s look at two examples.  Many believers have said something along the lines of, “But I am such a sinner” or “we are sinners saved by grace.”  But that is not who we are.  That is who we were.  Do we still sin?  Yes.  But now we have the power to overcome sin.  Sin is not what defines us.  The grace and power of God defines us.  We are a new creation with the Spirit of God Himself living inside us!

Do you sense the tension, the balance?  We need to view ourselves as God sees us.  Only then will we act like it.  If we keep beating ourselves up about being sinners, we’ll wallow in that shame and continue to act like it.  We need to move forward with the balance of living as a new creation with the power of the Holy Spirit while being aware and cautious of our vulnerability to sin. 

Another belief I’ve heard is that we’re worthless.  However, each human life is created in the image of God.  God sent His Son to die for us.  God desires us.  The flip side to that, the tension is, nothing we do contributes to our righteousness or salvation.  That is possible only by faith in God’s redeeming work through Christ’s death and resurrection.

Read your Bible and discover who God says you are.  Maintain a healthy balance and tension.  Any extreme leads to danger.

Must reads:
Colossians 2:6-15
John 17:20-26  (Did you catch that, at the end of verse 23?)
Romans 8:1-17
Romans 8:18-30
Romans 8:31-39

Originally posted June 3, 2019.