Daily Devotions based the Sermon from January 10, 2021
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: A Mission-Minded Person Is Secure in Their Identity!
Many of us are people-pleasers.
We want people to like us and so we do things that we think will lead to that result.
The problem is, people don’t always like us.
Eventually we are going to do something that someone doesn’t like because not everybody likes the same thing. For a people pleaser…this can be crushing.
When people are not pleased with us, it leads us to question our value, worth and significance.
It doesn’t have to.
When we find our identity in pleasing other imperfect people, we will often be questioning our identity.
Psychologists encourage us to have “self-worth and self-appreciation.” However, I believe that is hard to always drum up internally when externally I am being dumped on.
So where do we turn?
You guessed it. Back to our baptism and what God has to say about us.
At Jesus’ baptism, the Father said of his Son, “This is my son, whom I love, with him I am well-pleased.”
Our heavenly Father, says the same of you, “with you I am well-pleased.” Why can he say this? Because in our baptism we have been connected to the pleasing work of his Son Jesus!
Our baptism covers us in forgiveness…so we are always pleasing to God.
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
Our baptism gives us a new life that enables us to please God.
Romans 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Our baptism begins the transformational work of God’s Spirit to understand what pleases God.
Romans 12: 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Our baptism changes our focus from pleasing people to pleasing God.
Galatians 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Sure, we all need affirmation from people once in a while. It is also healthy to evaluate how our actions and words are affecting others. However, if you are looking for a foundational, identity reality, go back to how God thinks of you…with you he is well-pleased.
Apply: Take the three phrases from this week and put them on your mirror. Use them as a daily reminder and affirmation of who you are:
- I am a child of God!
- I am loved by God!
- I am pleasing to God!
Prayer: Thank you for the new identity I have because of my baptism. Grant me your Spirit every day to live this identity as a loved, pleasing, child of God! Amen.
Thank you for praying the following with us at Cross & Crown:
Day 5 – Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
God, open our minds and hearts to Your vision for Your Church that endures for all generations. Help us to not be limited by our own fears or doubts. Unify us in Your love and allow us to dream Your dreams for our community.