Faith Journey

What I am and Why God Version

What I am and Why God Version

What I am and Why God Version

It is easy to accept and own a person’s free-will version of themselves. The bad stuff is always easier to believe. What is difficult for most people is the Truth, as believers, as to what the Lord says about us in His Word. So, after yesterday, here is the Truth about What I am and Why God Version.

I believe I am going to do these verses in the Message. That is not my favorite version, but it does say things in plain English, and you certainly don’t question the meaning. Other versions can be harder to understand (for me). Ben Malcolmson compiled this list.

Beloved

“met God out looking for them!” God told them, “I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love!” Jeremiah 31:3

A Child of God

“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. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to.” 1 John 3:1

Delighted In

“Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs.” Zephaniah 3:17

Forgiven

“He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing.” 1 Peter 2:24

Washed Clean

“Come. Sit down. Let’s argue this out.” This is God’s Message: “If your sins are blood-red, they’ll be snow-white. If they’re red like crimson, they’ll be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18

Free

“Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.” Galatians 5:1

A Temple of the Holy Spirit

“Or didn’t you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you.” 1 Corinthians 6:19

Adopted into God’s Family

“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?” Romans 8:15

Co-Heir with Christ

“And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us – an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!” Romans 8:17

Righteous

“How? you say. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

New

“Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

A Saint

” A number of you know from experience what I’m talking about, for not so long ago, you were on that list. Since then, you’ve been cleaned up and given a fresh start by Jesus, our Master, our Messiah, and our God present in us, the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:11

Set Apart

“But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you -” 1 Peter 2:9

An Ambassador of Christ

“We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.” 2 Corinthians 5:20

A Co-Laborer

“What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving. You happen to be God’s field in which we are working.” 1 Corinthians 3:9

A Sweet Aroma

“Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation – an aroma redolent with life.” 2 Corinthians 2:15

Never Alone

“God is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you. Don’t let intimidation hold you back. Don’t worry.” Deuteronomy 31:8

A Masterpiece

“No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.” Ephesians 2:10

Wonderfully Made

“thank you, High God – you’re breathtaking! I marvel at how wonderfully God made both my body and soul. I worship in adoration – what a creation!” Psalm 139:14

Bold

“With that kind of hope to excite us, nothing holds us back.” 2 Corinthians 3:12

Having Guaranteed Victory

“You protect me with salvation-armor; you hold me up with a firm hand, caress me with your gentle ways.” Psalm 18:35

Holding a Secure Future

“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” Jeremiah 29:11

Whole in Christ

“When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.” Colossians 2:10

 

Guest Blogger

Guest Blogger Jenny Clendenen

Guest Blogger Jenny Clendenen

Welcome to my Guest Blogger Jenny Clendenen. I’m so thankful to know her and to be her friend.

Being Tricked into Sinning

Has the devil ever tricked you into sinning, then condemned you afterward? Unfortunately, the devil is good at that. We must learn his tricks and resist him—so he will flee!

With God’s help, we can abstain from the passions of our flesh that wage war against our souls. You know what I’m talking about… the things we do or the times we don’t listen to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and we feel bad for going too far in our freedom after the fact.

God gives us lots of freedom, but we need to ensure we are not abusing that freedom. Think about the freedoms we have but may abuse—what we eat or drink, how we spend our time, what we do with our money, and how we use our giftings, talents, and calling.

Finding Balance in Freedom

So, how can we find a balance in our freedom and honor everyone in authority over us? How do we find the boundaries in our freedom? How about having the strength to abstain from going too far, having too much, or using our time and money wisely? Why should we not go past those boundaries and possibly choose to abstain altogether?

Scriptural Foundation

1 Peter 2:11-17 (ESV)

“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”

Read 1 Peter 2:11-17 (ESV)

1 Peter 2:11-17 (The Message Translation)

*”Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it.

Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul.

Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices.

Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.

Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order.

It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society.

Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules.

Treat everyone you meet with dignity.

Love your spiritual family.

Revere God.

Respect the government.”*

Read 1 Peter 2:11-17 (MSG)

The Call to Live Honorably

1 Peter 2:11-17 reminds us that while we are free (from the Old Testament Law), we must not take our freedom too far. Our conduct should still honor everyone in authority over us.

Reflection: What Is God Speaking to You?

What are these verses speaking to you today? How is God calling you to exercise your freedom responsibly and with honor?

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father,

I pray You will bring conviction to our hearts if we need to change our attitudes and actions. Show me how I need to submit to the authority You have given me in my church, home, workplace, and government, so I reflect You.

I pray for those in authority over me. Bless them, and help me honor them. Let the honor and respect I show silence ignorant accusations against You. Help me represent You well and not abuse the freedoms You have given me.

Teach me the boundaries with what I eat or drink, how I spend my time and money, and how I use my talents, giftings, and calling. If I can’t stay within the specific boundaries You give me, show me if I need to abstain from certain freedoms so I don’t excuse Your freedom to do evil.

In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

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