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If You Are

The thing most important to how we live each day is to realize who we are.  I don’t mean what are our names or who are our parents or where we came from or even what things we do.  I mean to simply know who we are.

This is important because when we do not know who we are, we allow the devil the best opportunity to control our lives.  The best example we have of someone knowing who they are is Jesus.  The next best is John the Baptist.  We would expect Jesus to know Who He was.  But what about John?

When the Jews wanted to know who John was, they sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”  John did not respond by telling them his name.  He said to them, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness:  Make straight the way of the Lord.”

John was saying “I am a voice.”  That’s who I am.  And because he knew who he was, he lived out his life with favor.  Just after Jesus was baptized by John, scripture says He was led out into the desert where He was tempted by satan over a 40-day period.

The devil attempted on three occasions that we know of to get Jesus to question Who He was.  In Luke 4:3-12 scripture says this.  “And the devil said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.’  And again, ‘If You will worship me, all will be Yours.’  And finally, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here for it is written.’”

Each time He was tempted, Jesus responded by showing the devil He knew Who He was and what that meant. But Jesus didn’t simply respond for Himself.  He responded for you and me too.  In each case, He said to satan “It is written…” and, “Man shall not…”  Jesus didn’t need to prove His Being or God’s Word, and we don’t need to do that either when we know who we are.

Jesus was tempted in three areas He knew we would all be tempted to live like we are responding to someone saying to us, “If you are.”  It is certain that at some time we will be tempted in the areas of Provision, of Position, and of Protection.  Provision to have all that we need.  Position in the eyes of other men.  Protection from hurt harm and danger that will always come our way.

When you are a child of God, it means you have the power to live free from doubt about your provision in life, your position in life, and your protection in life no matter your circumstances.

A child of God learns to live in dependence on the Lord for the basic provisions and necessities of life.  A child does not have to turn stones into the bread needed to each day.  A child does not live just by bread but by the life and the provision of the Lord Who is our Bread of Life.

The Lord meets every hunger you will have as a child. If you are a child of God, feast on the Word of God and you will be provided the bread of God.  His Word is the way to all your provisions.

If you are a child of God, learn to reject a life that seeks after the position and the glory of man and what it can offer you.  Children of God are not here to have authority over others or to live above others or to worship and serve the things that others want and desire.

If you are a child of God, learn to live happily with the position in Him that is far greater than any position of glory man can give you.  Live in the position of glory afforded only the child of God. 

If you are a child of God, learn to live under the wings of God’s protection, safety, and security.  You do not have to prove that God is able to keep you safe.  The miracle of God’s desire to protect you and to keep you safe is best seen in the wisdom you acquire in His Word to live in the security and safety of His heart as your home.

When your mouth gets ahead of your life and proclaims your status as a child of God, satan will tempt you by telling you, “That’s not who you are.”  If you are a child of God your life will say to others, “It is written all over me that God is the source of my Provision, of my Position, and of my Protection.”

Live a Delivered Life.  Love you.