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Your Identity, How do
you reveal it?
A Devotional for the
Season of Lent
The Gospel for the first
Sunday in Lent was from Luke chapter four verses one through thirteen. In this story of the
temptations of Jesus there are many possibilities for sermons or teaching. In each of these
temptations the devil addresses Jesus with the “if possibility”. “If you are the Son of God”
make stones to be bread or cast yourself down. Jesus overcame these temptations with the simple truth
that he knew who he was. He had no need to prove to the devil that he was or to let the devil define
him. The devil knew Jesus to be the Son of God.
The devil knows that
those who confess with their lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in their in their hearts that God
raised Jesus form the dead are God’s children. It is because the devil knows you are God’s
children that he seeks to capture you to be his. If the devil is not actively seeking you it is
because he already processes you. The primary defense you have against the devil’s assaults is the
same defense and strength Jesus revealed in his temptation in the wilderness. He knew who he was and
was bold to reveal it. As we meet with the children of God in worship, as we bow our heads in prayer
to and with the Almighty and as we study the scripture we affirm our identity and grow in God’s
grace and strength. If we neglect meeting together, ignore prayer and scripture we become vulnerable
to the devil’s assaults.
In the second temptation
recorded in Luke chapter four the devil attempts to buy a new identity for Jesus. The devil shows
Jesus the kingdoms of the world and says, “If you then will worship me, it will be yours”. If you
have become enslaved to the devil Jesus offers freedom. Believe with your heart and confess with your
lips that Jesus is Lord and you will be saved. Meet with the household of faith and celebrate your
identity as God’s Child.
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