Check The Label (2)
Friday July 8, 2016
What happens when some of our usual identification points are marred by events which were totally out of our control or by choices we have made? Our family of origin might have been dysfunctional and we were left with unmet needs. We may have painful memories from the schools we attended or the churches or organizations we belonged to. Our friends may have let us down or encouraged us along a path which led to a destructive lifestyle. Our children may have suffered from our wrong choices or they may be causing us pain from their choices. How do we identify ourselves when one or more of these events is present in our lives? Do we hide in our addictions because the person we are inside our heads is wrapped up in the painful way these events impacted us?
God is not surprised by anything that has taken place in our lives and God cares. From the Bible we learn: “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.” (Psalm 139: 1-4 NLT)
God knows all about each day of our lives and has made a way to deal with everything that’s gone wrong. On this basis, we can dare to uncover all the dark secrets from our past. When we accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as payment for all the sins committed against us and committed by us, we become new creations. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)
We have a choice today - life based on rejection, pain and shame, OR, life in our new identity in Christ where we are forgiven, healed, loved and accepted by God? The choice is ours to make!
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