In the first Part of this reflection, I wrote about two people – the fictitious Charlie Parker, disowned by his father and mother in one of my stories, and the true story of the young woman I met, for whom rejection by her parents was all too real. I wonder if you relate to Charlie and to this girl? Or do you know others who are even now suffering in this way? Unfortunately these situations are all too common.
I would like to share some scriptural truths with you that demonstrate how much our Heavenly Father loves and values us. Truths that can set believing Christians free. Charlie’s story unfolds to tell how he gave his life to Jesus, was baptised in water and in the Holy Spirit – and his life changing dramatically. He was set free from his past and the hurts of his childhood and discovered a heavenly Father who was not at all like his natural father but a God of love, who values every person and has placed His unique purposes within each of us.
Being born again, regenerated, means each person giving their lives to Jesus Christ, can be set free to be all God purposed them to be, and to enjoy the abundant life that Jesus came for. Abundant life because Jesus Himself said: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10;10
The fact is that we are valued by God because each of us is uniquely created in His image. It’s got nothing to do with our own achievements. Our worth comes from His unconditional love and the all embracing sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. That’s what sets us free to dedicate ourselves to the purposes He has for each of us during our lives on earth.
So here are four truths for us to understand and to share:
You are made in God’s image.
Genesis 1:27 says: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
Humankind are distinct from the rest of creation because each one of us was created in the image and likeness of God.
The price was paid for you.
Peter 1:18-19 says: ”You were ransomed… not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ.”
God showed His love and how much He values us by the sacrifice of His Son
God’s love is unconditional.
Romans 8:38-39 says: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”.
God’s love isn’t based on our performance or by us being perfect , but only on His unchanging character. He will always love us.
God has His own purposes for us.
Ephesians 2:10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
We are not some cosmic accident but have been created for a purpose. We are considered by God to be His “workmanship”.
Finally:
“My” young lady in her desperate need did hear about Jesus and about her loving Heavenly Father. The choice she had to make was hers and hers alone, but at least she knew the choices available to her.
I hope that, like the fictitious Charlie, she chose to embrace the loving kindness of our Heavenly Father and all that Christ restored through His life, death and resurrection; that she discovered the difference that His love and value can and will make to her life.
We too can know and experience the difference living under these same truths can make to each of our lives – now and on into eternity! It requires faith in God, trusting in His promises, and a Christian hope for the future. How wonderful it is to believe and to be able to say:
“God is my Father and He loves me!”
Amen!
All references are from the NKJV unless specified otherwise.
John Partis
bearing-kingdom-fruit.com
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