"A New Season"
"Identity" (Relational Truth: part 1)
Who am I? This is one of the most
basic and essential questions related to my human life. The truth of who I
really am is revealed to me by my Heavenly Father in the context of a tender,
loving relationship. Yes, it is the Father who makes known to me my true
identity: This is "relational truth". This truth is unveiled for me in the
midst of an intimate friendship with the Father: "In your light we see light"
(Psalm 36:10). In the "light " of the Father's tremendous love for me, I "see"
the truth: I am His child. The "world" can give me an identity, but it will
never be my true identity. Only the Father can speak into my heart my true
identity: "You are my son; today I am your father" (Psalm 2:7).
The word, today, roots me in the
present moment, the 'here and now' moment which is the only reality I have in
which to experience life. With the Father, each day is new: "The favors of the
LORD...his mercies...are renewed each morning, so great is his faithfulness"
(Lam. 3:22,23). A child most often accepts and embraces the reality of the
present moment rather than focusing on a past that is over, or on a future that
is not yet and hence remains veiled. The Father exhorts me not to live in
the past: "Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago
consider not; See, I am doing something new!" (Is. 43:18-19). The Father is
the One who promises me a "tomorrow" of His own making: "A future full of hope"
(Jr. 29:11). Jesus tells me, "Do not worry about tomorrow" (Mt. 6:34).
Each of us is either a precious son or
a precious daughter of our Dearest Father--our Precious, tender "Abba"! This is
relational truth. A precious Father only creates precious children: "You
are precious in my eyes" (Is. 43:4). The word, precious, means 'worth,
valuable, highly esteemed, cherished, dear, beloved'. The root meaning of the
word is, 'price'. The words, praise and price, both share this same root
meaning. On the cross Jesus paid the "price" of the shedding of his blood so
that we might be reconciled with God and
experience how precious we are to the Father. Authentic Christian praise
springs from a heart that is aware of being in the presence of one's Precious,
Heavenly Father: "You are precious in my eyes" (Is. 43:4). It is
who I am in the "Eyes" of the Father that matters most. His Eyes are the
"Eternal Eyes" of the God who is Love (see 1 John 4:8): "You will always be a
child in my eyes" (lyrics from Christian song, "Always be a child", by
Ray Boltz).
Questions:
1) Is
my relationship with the Heavenly Father intimate and secure, or in need of
healing and growth?
2) Am
I aware of, and firmly rooted in, my true identity as child?
Scriptures:
Any scripture from the text; 1 Ch. 17:13-14; Mal. 2:10A; Mt.
18:1-5; John 20:17B
