BIBLE STUDIES FROM NLC LEADERS - JANE BENTLEY

Hi everyone, God is good!

Here are a few studies from our leaders in New Life Church, maybe one a day?

We want you to know that you are loved by us. We continue to pray for you, strengthen you and help you in your faith in Jesus.

God’s blessings and lots of love

4. Who am I?

Psalm 139:16 ‘You saw me before I was born.’ (TLB)

Everything at this time is all very strange. It can lead to feelings of wondering who we are.  Our identity is usually rooted in our profession, our occupation or our position in life. – ‘I’m Fred’s mum; he’s Sarah’s dad; I’m a doctor; he’s Jenny’s father-in-law’, etc.  When the children we little, I’d often have long conversations with other people, but only know them as my daughter’s friends mum! We’re a parent – but can’t see our children if they have homes of their own; we’re a son/daughter, but can’t see our parents; we’re a teacher, but can’t do ‘school’ as normal; we work in a factory, but can’t go to work; we’re a cleaner but can’t go and clean the offices; we’re an accountant, musician, waitress, but not needed! 

God doesn’t see who we are as being associated with our job, or status, or even in the terms of our relationship with others. As the verse says: ‘You saw me before I was born.’  God knows who we are. He knew who we were before we were born – Psalm 139:13 says ‘you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb’. 

God wants us to be all that He made us to be – or you can swap that sentence around – God made us to be all that He wants us to be.  He’d already knew the plans and purposes he had for you, before you were born, and created you to be fully one of the sons of God.

In Romans 8 we read about the sons of God coming into their own:- ‘The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own.’ (Romans 8:19 JB Phillips version).  You are a son of God and the whole of creation is waiting for you to know that fully, and live in the fullness of all that this means.

Know who you are in Christ. You are a son of God – whether you’re male or female, you are a son.  If you are in Christ, you are His son.  You need to learn to live in your identity as one of the sons of God.  All the resources of heaven are at your disposal, God’s power and riches are waiting for you to use. 

Whatever you might be feeling at the moment, remember that you are not an orphan, with no identity.  You are a child of God – now begin to live in the fullness of that fact!

Further study – Romans 8!

Something to do – spend a few minutes writing a list about yourself – what makes you, you?  What gifts, talents, resources, has God given you?  Then look at what you have written and ask God how those things can be used in the current circumstances. Just because you have used your gift in one way, see how you could use it in a way that is more suited to the way we’re living today.  For example, if you have the gift of talking – ring people up and let them know you’re thinking of them.  God has made you unique, and He wants to use that uniqueness for His service and the expansion of His Kingdom.

Jane Bentley.