Who We Truly Are
Jan Dravecky, Guest Writer
TODAY’S TREASURE
What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are (1 John 3:1, The Message).
So, I asked God – after the imposter had been identified and my masks were removed – who am I? I learned that I am a child of God – not just any child – but Abba’s child!
And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir (Galatians 4:4-7, NLT).
I learned that I am loved regardless of my imperfections! This unconditional love was so important for me to know because I have so many imperfections. Every time one of them is exposed I feel shame and want to hide for fear that I will lose His love. But what is even more exciting to me is that as children of God we are assured…
That nothing can ever separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38, NLT).
Nothing can change who we truly are – we are Abba’s children! Brennan Manning shares in Abba’s Child…
“My dignity as Abba’s child is my most coherent sense of self. When I seek to
fashion a self-image from the adulation of others and the inner voice whispers,
‘You’ve arrived; you’re a player in the Kingdom Enterprise,’ there is no truth
in that self-concept. When I sink into despondency and the inner voice whispers,
‘You are no good, a fraud, a hypocrite, and a dilettante,’ there is no truth in any image
shaped from that message. As Gerald May has noted, ‘It is important to recognize
these self-commentaries for the mind tricks they are. They have nothing to do with our
real dignity. How we view ourselves at any given moment may have very little to do with who we really are.’ ”
So because of who we really are we can experience an intimate, trusting, and loving relationship with our Abba Father freeing us to live the resurrection life that has been given to us from Him. We need not live our lives fearfully, but fearlessly, on the expectant adventure that our Papa will love and lead us through until we receive our eternal inheritance!
This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us, an unbelievable inheritance! (Romans 8:15-17, The Message).
On the journey with you,
Jan Dravecky
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jan Dravecky is the wife of former San Francisco Giants baseball pitcher, Dave Dravecky. Together, Jan and Dave founded the Endurance ministry (endurance.org), created specifically to encourage those who are facing serious illness, loss or depression. Jan shares more of her story in the MARKINC, Help & Hope podcast: Blow Away the Dark Clouds – a conversation with Jan Dravecky.
For more from Daily Treasure please visit MARKINC.ORG.
Originally published Wednesday, 25 May 2022.
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