deacon blues
12-14-2007, 02:18 AM
David: A Man After God's Own Heart
Abraham: The Friend of God
Gideon: Mighty Man of Valor
Moses: The Lawgiver
Paul: Apostle
John: The Revelator
These great heroes of the faith are known by their given labels and titles. No one questions their place in history and in the story of God's chosen vessels. David, the giant slayer, the great king of Israel and psalmist. Abraham, the father of the faithful, the patriarch of Israel, the man of great faith. Gideon, the judge and deliverer of Israel, the captain of God's army that defeated the Midianites. Moses, the prophet of God and defeater of the Egyptian Pharaoh and his empire, leader of Israel and key man of the great exodus. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, the great missionary, the church planter and writer of more books of the Bible than any man. John, the beloved disciple, the disciple of John the Baptist who later followed Christ, a son of thunder.......
Yet when one looks at these lives there were low moments. There were moments of great failure and tragedy, shame and regret. David could also be called the adulterer. Abraham could be called the doubter. Gideon could be called the idolator. Moses, the murderer. Paul, the persecutor of the church. John, the elitist. And although these men are shown in this light as well as in their greatest moments, the summary of their lives does not reflect these blemishes on their record. Why?
Because God does not define people by their lowest moments!
Wrap your mind around that! We oftentimes define ourselves by low moments. Moments of regret, moments of defeat, moments of shame, moments of failure, moments of anguish and moments of tragedy. A defining moment. A divorce. The death of a loved one. A terrible decision. A one night stand. A sinful act. Losing a business. A car accident. Bankruptcy. An embarrassing failure. A humiliating defeat. An alcoholic father. An abusive parent. A molestation. Neglect. Verbal abuse. The list goes on unending with all the things that we might define ourselves by.
But Jesus changes all of that. He does not call you by your lowest identifier. He calls you "little lamb", "child", "son", "daughter" "bride" "lover" "friend". He defines you by what He sees, not what you remember!
Don't be defined by your failures, your tragedies, your regrets, your sorrows. Let God define you as one of His! How God defines you is the only label that really matters!
Abraham: The Friend of God
Gideon: Mighty Man of Valor
Moses: The Lawgiver
Paul: Apostle
John: The Revelator
These great heroes of the faith are known by their given labels and titles. No one questions their place in history and in the story of God's chosen vessels. David, the giant slayer, the great king of Israel and psalmist. Abraham, the father of the faithful, the patriarch of Israel, the man of great faith. Gideon, the judge and deliverer of Israel, the captain of God's army that defeated the Midianites. Moses, the prophet of God and defeater of the Egyptian Pharaoh and his empire, leader of Israel and key man of the great exodus. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, the great missionary, the church planter and writer of more books of the Bible than any man. John, the beloved disciple, the disciple of John the Baptist who later followed Christ, a son of thunder.......
Yet when one looks at these lives there were low moments. There were moments of great failure and tragedy, shame and regret. David could also be called the adulterer. Abraham could be called the doubter. Gideon could be called the idolator. Moses, the murderer. Paul, the persecutor of the church. John, the elitist. And although these men are shown in this light as well as in their greatest moments, the summary of their lives does not reflect these blemishes on their record. Why?
Because God does not define people by their lowest moments!
Wrap your mind around that! We oftentimes define ourselves by low moments. Moments of regret, moments of defeat, moments of shame, moments of failure, moments of anguish and moments of tragedy. A defining moment. A divorce. The death of a loved one. A terrible decision. A one night stand. A sinful act. Losing a business. A car accident. Bankruptcy. An embarrassing failure. A humiliating defeat. An alcoholic father. An abusive parent. A molestation. Neglect. Verbal abuse. The list goes on unending with all the things that we might define ourselves by.
But Jesus changes all of that. He does not call you by your lowest identifier. He calls you "little lamb", "child", "son", "daughter" "bride" "lover" "friend". He defines you by what He sees, not what you remember!
Don't be defined by your failures, your tragedies, your regrets, your sorrows. Let God define you as one of His! How God defines you is the only label that really matters!