Devotional of the week: Identity (3 in Luke 4 series)
“If you are the Son of God…” Luke 4:3
“Do you really think you’re a writer?” In my journey of stepping in to being a writer, having been an editor for decades, I would sometimes hear this question in my head – through self-doubt, or through how I interpret criticism, or perhaps even from the evil one. My path to becoming a writer has been long, for only after many years as an editor did I venture into writing – and then with fear. And yet being an author forms part of my identity – as well as being an editor, and more importantly as God’s beloved, a wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend…
Here Satan starts his series of temptations by questioning Jesus’s identity, saying, “If you are the Son of God, then…” He’s asking Jesus to prove who – and whose – he is, even though I’m guessing the devil already knew the answer.
How different are the words of God the Father. After Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, a voice from heaven says that this is God’s son whom he loves (Matthew 3:17). And later, when Jesus and two of his disciples are praying on a mountain and Jesus radiates God’s glory (the transfiguration), similarly a voice says, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him” (Luke 9:34). God’s words affirm Jesus’ core identity, while Satan’s seek to undermine it.
Might there be parts of your identity that you have yet to accept?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your words of love and that we are your children. May we never waver from our central identity as your beloved. Amen.
I’ve always been told that I would never been any good at things, I’m sure that this still influences the way I think now. But God knows what I can do ……
Oh Chris that makes me so sad. But yes, God knows that he created you in his wonderful image – which means you are good at so much, doesn’t it! xxxooo
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