THE PRINCE WHO LIVED LIKE A PAUPER (How God Sees Us – 3)
A kind, benevolent king had a son whom he loved dearly. But the son didn’t feel he deserved his father’s love. He could have lived a fine life as the King’s son, but he rejected it because he assumed he was unworthy. The king tried to convince him that his worth came because he was the king’s son and had nothing to do with what he could or couldn’t do. Yet the son spent his life in poverty and want. He struggled, suffered and experienced much misery because he refused to see himself as a special child of the king.
Many Christians are that way as well. We don’t see ourselves as God sees us. We identify ourselves with those who aren’t part of the royal family because we think that is all we deserve. Satan loves that and feeds us lies to keep us in defeat and discouragement. The last two blogs have shown how God sees us and what we have in Him. Read them carefully and apply them to your own life. It will help you walk in victory instead of defeat. Add these privileges to the list as well.
You are unconditionally and eternally loved by God. You are not just a casual acquaintance; you are the object of His full love now and forever. Romans 8:35-39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It doesn’t matter if you ‘feel’ loved or loveable or not – He loves you. It doesn’t matter if you can’t do anything to earn or deserve it – He loves you. It doesn’t matter if you can never pay Him back – He loves you. And there’s no way He will ever stop! There is nothing you can do to make Him love you more, and there is nothing you can do to make Him love you less!
You have God’s peace. Before salvation you were God’s enmity because of sin. You were a member of Satan’s army. When your sin was forgiven the enmity was removed and you are now at peace with God. Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” In addition, you have peace from God that allows you to have an attitude of trust instead of fear of the future. You also have peace from God (Colossians 3:15). Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and part of your new identity instead of fear, anxiety, stress or hopelessness (Galatians 5:22-23).
You are under grace, not law. All God’s dealings with you are by grace. You don’t have to repay Him, make anything up to Him, serve out of fear or ever doubt where you stand with Him. He freely gives you grace for every need in your life (2 Corinthians 12:9). Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Your weakness is replaced by power. You are not helpless and weak, but are empowered by God to do anything and everything He requires of you. Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Philippians 4:13 “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
What a wonderful privileged position we have because we are God’s children. Sometimes it may seem hard to believe all this is true of us, but that’s the enemy trying to replace our joy and peace with guilt and fear. Your Father loves you unconditionally and accepts you totally. Accept His love and bask in it.
Has your spiritual identity been improving over the last few weeks?
What have you been learning about yourself from these blogs?
Which of these truths that were presented above do you need most right now? Write out the Bible verses and carry them with you. Read them whenever your true identity falters. Memorize them.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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