The Glory of His Grace
Hello Bride of Christ,
How we see ourselves impacts every fabric of our lives. This is why I think it is so important to learn and understand our true identity. God our creator along with the Holy Spirit and Jesus, in the book of Genesis, said “ Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that moves on the earth.” Do you know you were made in the image of the God of the universe? Did you know you bear the resemblance of Jesus Christ and the ability to be a truth speaker like the Holy Spirit? When I learned this truth for the first time and even still today when I am reminded that I was created in the image of the living God I sit a little taller. I receive clarity of mind and purpose. And then I ask how and why?!
“To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”
Ephesians 1:6
Paul in his letter to the Ephesians addresses the issue of identity. He tells them, “To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:6) Through the grace of God, His favor / His high favor, we are accepted or approved by God because of God’s Beloved. In the gospel of Luke we are told when Jesus was baptized the heavens opened and God spoke, “You (Jesus) are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22) We are accepted by God because of Jesus. Not because of our own worth or work does God accept us and show us favor, but because of His Beloved, Jesus. Why?
As Paul continues in Ephesians 1:7 “In Him (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Through grace, unmerited favor, Jesus justified us before God and has given us access to God’s forgiveness for our sins. So now we can walk free! There is no shame or condemnation (Romans 8:1) of our past selves or when we make a mistake, but instead we have freedom. Freedom to choose to not make the same choice but to walk in the spirit and live for God. It is Jesus' work of redemption and God's rich grace that allows us to look like the living God's image.
Bride of Christ, may this self-image of Christ in us anchor us as we walk through these days, weeks, and months before us because you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 3:14). When you doubt it or this image of Christ in you begins to fade, come back to the word and renew your mind with the truth of who you are and empower you to walk in the power of His grace enabling you to show up as your best self, which is Christ - the hope of glory!
