Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 5: My Identity as a Child of Godd Word!”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
Who am I?
I’ve never been an avid watcher of Saturday Night Live, but watched a “few” years ago in college. The comedian turned politician, Al Franken played the role of Stuart Smalley. The segment was called, “Daily Affirmation” (Here’s a short clip of a segment with Michael Jordan if you are curious! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNx_gU57gQ4) As part of the segment, the mantra he would repeat is this, “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and dog gone it, people like me.”
What SNL used to do well (not sure anymore) is capture parodies on every day occurrences and thought. They would accentuate various aspects to make it funny, but in reality it would touch on what many if not most people were thinking. I believe this is the case with Stuart Smalley. It is the search we all have for significance, affirmation, and value.
And if we can’t get it anywhere else, we take it upon ourselves to give it to ourselves.
But even that can be tough.
Because we soak in our identity from the situations, people and circumstances around us.
Consider Smalley’s phrase, “I’m good enough…”
How do you determine that? Is it based on a grade you receive? Is it based on a promotion you obtain? Is it based on a blue ribbon achieved? Is it based on a proficiency better than most?
Being “good enough” can be an endless pursuit.
What about “I’m smart enough…”?
Who sets the standard for that? Are you smart enough when you are the “go-to” person for everyone’s questions at work? Are you smart enough when you get 100’s on all your assignments? Are you smart enough when you figure out the answers to life’s toughest problems? Are you smart enough when 100 or more people agree with your on social media?
It’s hard when there is no objective standard of being “smart enough.”
What about, “Dog gone it, people like me”?
Do they? How many do? Do the right people like me? If I have over 500 friends on social media, am I liked? What if someone yells at me, do they like me? What if a person I really care about doesn’t care about me any more? What if someone gets busy and doesn’t give me the attention I want?
It’s hard when some people don’t like you.
So where does that leave us? I suppose sitting in front of a mirror like Stuart Smalley just giving ourselves our own daily affirmation – just to make sure SOMEONE does!
But that too feels a bit empty, doesn’t it?
The truth is Satan loves to get us to find our identity, value and significance from outward circumstances. He loves to let us buy into what others think of us and embrace that as our own identity.
But God has given us a different plan to explore this week.
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
What happens when God’s Spirit leads me to embrace an identity not found in others, or myself, but in Christ? It is an amazing transformation! Do not miss the rest of the devotions this week!
Apply: What are you allowing to mold your identity? Who do you look to to tell you if you are good enough? Smart enough? Who are you wanting to like you?
Prayer: Lord forgive me for molding my identity on outward circumstances and people’s opinion. Mold my identity around who you have made me…your child!