ISSUES THAT MEN FACE. No.2

So today we began to dig into the second of the issues that men face- IDENTITY.
Men can go through the whole of their lives uncertain of who they really are, and having no security in their identity. Is our identity in our job title? Our ability? Our place in society? Our life-role? How others see us?
We opened up the Bible in Luke's gospel and looked at 2 important passages early in the life and ministry of Jesus:
The boy Jesus in the Temple-Luke 2.41-52
The baptism of Jesus-Luke 3.21-23
In the Temple we discovered:
*Jesus speaks about God being His Heavenly Father
*The only words we hear the boy Jesus speak are about His identity and His purpose.
*In verse 52 we saw that Jesus grew in a balanced way-physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. Many people grow unbalanced because of struggles with their identity.
*From this moment on Jesus was able to grow securely into God's purposes for Him because He knew whom His Heavenly Father was. Security only comes in the arms of the Loving Father.
At the baptism of Jesus we discovered:
*God the Father speaking words of love and affirmation over Jesus the Son. He wants us to hear those words too.
*At this time Jesus hasn't even accomplished anything in His ministry- yet God speaks those words of love and affirmation. God's love for us doesn't depend on our accomplishments or abilities, or even our ministry.
*Jesus needed that blessing, and anointing of the Holy Spirit, at the commencement of His public ministry, not as a reward at the end. We go about God's purposes not to earn His approval but because we are loved and affirmed. We minister out of a secure place of identity.

The Bible assures us that God wants to relate to us like a Father- with all the trustworthy, faithful and reliable characteristics we would want to see from our earthly fathers. Before Jesus stepped out into his public ministry, he needed the affirmation of His Heavenly Father. God wants to give us that blessing and affirmation too. We must find our identity as children of God before we can ever be or do anything else.

Comments

[Sharon]

I just had to comment on this ...

I had struggled for so long with seeing God as my Father (If you get a chance check out the Testimony Thread on the boards .. #7)

The point that we can't do anything until we see our identity as His child is so true!! Our worth needs to found in "Whose" we are, not what we have done.