You Were Created by a Loving, Devoted Father
Even though we know in our heart the above statement is true, sometimes our head struggles with questions such as:
Who am I?
Where am I going?
How do I know what path to choose and which decision to make?
What is my purpose and mission?
The answers to those questions are entirely dependent on belonging
Before you can truly know who you are and where you are going, you must know Whose you are
Psalm 139:13-14a,16 (NIV) says “13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made… 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Barnes Notes on the Bible describes verse 14 this way: “For I am fearfully and wonderfully made - The word rendered ‘fearfully’ means… things suited to produce fear or reverence. The word rendered ‘wonderfully made’ means… to distinguish; to separate. The literal translation… would be, ‘I am distinguished by fearful things;’ that is, by things in my creation which are suited to inspire awe. … The idea is, that he was ‘distinguished’ among the works of creation, or so ‘separated’ from other things… He was made different from inanimate objects, and from the brute creation; he was ‘so’ made, in the entire structure of his frame, as to fill the mind with wonder.”
We were made in such a way that inspires a Godly, reverent awe
We were made different than the rest of creation
We have been set apart for a divine purpose that is full of wonder
See Reflection/Question #1
Your life is not random
You were and are not an accident
Even if you were not planned by your parents, you were thoughtfully fashioned by God
He took the time to write out each and every moment of your life, in detail
Your life has meaning and purpose
And more than that… you are loved, adored and cherished as a treasure
He knows how many hairs are on your head at any given moment
Isaiah 43:4a (NLT) says, “Because you are precious in My sight, You are honored and I love you.”
You are a daughter of the King
You are royalty
You deserve God’s best
And He wants to give you His best
See Reflection/Question #2
You are clothed with the righteousness of Christ
When God looks at you, He sees the righteousness of His Son
He sees the whole (complete) you
He not only sees you as you were (and how far you have come), but He sees you as you will be, in His presence in heaven on that glorious day -- He simultaneously sees you in your entirety
You were bought back with a huge price tag
You were created by Him before you were even born
And then after you were born into sin, you were chosen by Him and adopted into His loving family
You were not only created by a loving Father, but you were also redeemed and repurchased with the life of His Son
Ephesians 1:4-5a (NLT) says, “4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.”
See Reflection/Question #3
He is a loving parent
Because you are chosen and loved, He wants to bless you
He wants to talk to you
He wants to live in constant relationship with you
That’s why Paul told us to never stop praying
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) says, “16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
He can’t wait for you to get to Heaven
Look at the story of the prodigal son from Luke chapter 15
He is anticipating your arrival and can’t wait for you to be in His presence forever
Luke 15:20b,22a,23b-24a (NLT), says, “20 Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 22 But his father said to the servants…, “23 We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’”
See Reflection/Question #4
You Belong at the Table
He has prepared a seat just for you
You can eat your fill and refill your glass as often as you want
You can interact with the others who are also sitting at the table
You belong
You are part of the family
Do not shrink back with doubt and false humility when you are in His presence
Instead, engage Him with a holy, reverent awe, recognizing that He loves you, even though you are imperfect
His doesn’t just love with words, He shows you how much He adores you by demonstrating it
Zephaniah 3:16b-17 (NLT) says, “16… Don’t be afraid! 17 For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”
Deuteronomy 33:12b (NIV) says, “Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.”
He dances and sings songs over you
He gives you sweet rest in the shelter of His strong shoulders
See Reflection/Question #5
See Reflection/Question #6
Now that you are confident in Whose you are, next week we will talk about who you are
Who you were born to be
Reflections/Questions:
What does it mean to be set apart for a divine purpose?
If God knows exactly how many hairs are on your head from moment-to-moment, what else do you think He knows about you?
Describe what it means that your heavenly Father sees the whole you.
What is it that you believe the heavenly Father longs for from us?
Why do you deserve to be in God’s presence?
Describe the ways that God shows His love for us with actions.
Action Points:
Write down (or highlight) all the verbs you see in Psalm 139:13-16
Say this phrase every morning while you are getting ready for the day: “I have been set apart for a divine purpose!”
Finish these sentences with multiple verbs and adverbs: “My Father ________ me. I am ______.”
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you to commune with him in every moment, then begin to train yourself to pray without ceasing
Practice living in (not just momentarily or occasionally attending) the presence of God