Day 5 - Allowing Him to Define You

We were once stained by sin – but now have access to the precious gift of redemption by his blood – set apart, his inheritance – called to bring Him all praise and glory!

Pray Ephesians 1:7-12

Since we are now joined to Christ, we have been given the treasures of redemption by his blood—the total cancellation of our sins—all because of the cascading riches of his grace. This superabundant grace is already powerfully working in us, releasing within us all forms of wisdom and practical understanding. And through the revelation of the Anointed One, he unveiled his secret desires to us—the hidden mystery of his long-range plan, which he was delighted to implement from the very beginning of time. And because of God’s unfailing purpose, this detailed plan will reign supreme through every period of time until the fulfillment of all the ages finally reaches its climax—when God makes all things new in all of heaven and earth through Jesus Christ.

Through our union with Christ we too have been claimed by God as his own inheritance. Before we were even born, he gave us our destiny; that we would fulfill the plan of God who always accomplishes every purpose and plan in his heart. God’s purpose was that we Jews, who were the first to long for the messianic hope, would be the first to believe in the Anointed One and bring great praise and glory to God! TPT™

This blows my mind – “total cancellation of sins” and then “through our union with Christ, we have been claimed by God as his own inheritance”. Our destiny is marked in His heart! This goes back to the reminder that HIS identity marked on us is ALL that matters.

The world will try and define us, our families will try and define us, even our marriage and our kids look to define us… But the LIFE SOURCE – the central thing through which all else should flow, is Jesus!

Take a few moments to reflect on your life priorities. What is the ONE thing that matters more than anything else?

The [intrinsically] good man produces what is good and honorable and moral out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart; and the [intrinsically] evil man produces what is wicked and depraved out of the evil [in his heart]; for his mouth speaks from the overflow of his heart. Luke 6:45 (AMP)

He did it ALL, He paid it all, so that you might LIVE! He came to give you life and life abundantly. When we allow ourselves to marked by anything other than Him, we essentially create space for the enemy to speak lies – lies about our identity, lies about our place in this world, lies about our value… The OVERFLOW should come from the Lord! What are your eyes, ears, heart and mind giving attention to?

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]. John 10:10 (AMP)

Make that list of priorities. I challenge you to write it down and be honest – no one else needs to see this. Think about where your time is spent. Think about the framework through which you make decisions.

Now, think about what Jesus did.

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will save you from all your uncleanness… Ezekiel 36:25-29

If you have 6 minutes, this powerful visual, by The Bible Project, shows how the blood sacrifice “atones” and how baptism and communion remind us of what He did. We are connected to a “new life source”! Jesus’ blood “washed away the vandalism that evil has caused”.

We are to no longer identify as sinners, but as righteous and redeemed, new in Christ Jesus – the old is gone, the new has come. There is no shame or condemnation in Christ Jesus. Today is a new day, live today as HE sees you. For “Christ in you, the hope of Glory (Colossians 1:27)!”