January 13, 2025

Identity in Christ – Week of January 13, 2025

4 minutes

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:4-7

ECME Devotion January 13, 2025

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/ece-devotions/20250113ECME.mp3

See series: ECME Devotions

How do you identify yourself? What is your worldview? These are questions that are being asked around the country and in our changing world. We can identify ourselves by our family background, interests and talents, character and values. Because God made each person with different personalities, gifts, and backgrounds, each person has a different view of themselves and different perspective of the world.

This can be unsettling for some people. Many just want to fit in or are confused about where their place is in society. Some become anxious or dissatisfied and have trouble solving everyday problems. But there is a cure for an identity crisis! Our true identity is not of this world. Our true identity is in Jesus, through baptism and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Baptism is sometimes called our “second birthday”. Through baptism, we are “washed” or “covered with” the righteousness (being “right with God) of Jesus. Jesus gave us this righteousness when he lived his perfect life on earth and then took our sins upon himself when he died on the cross. He beat the devil and all sin in the world when he died on the cross and came back to life that first Easter. Because of these “righteous things” that Jesus did, we now have a loving relationship with him. Our identity is now in the family of Christ!

We can take heart that our identity in Jesus is “not because of righteous things that we have done”. We know that we are sinners that cannot save ourselves. There is nothing “good” in us that can move God to save us. And if God waited for us to be able to do anything pure and righteous, he would be waiting forever! However, God was moved to save us because of his kindness, mercy, and undeserved love.

How thankful we are that we do not need to rely on our own merits or our own sinful identity to get to heaven! On our baptism day, we became a child of God. The Holy Spirit worked into our hearts and continues to help us grow in our faith. We know who we are! We are declared righteous (right with God) because of God’s kindness, mercy and love and now share the certainty of our place in heaven.

Prayer:

Dear God,

We live in a world of uncertainty. Thank you for reminding us that our identity is not found in this world, but that we are part of God’s family through Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit. How thankful we are that we do not need to rely on ourselves but are saved through your undeserved love. Amen.

A Question to Consider:

Think of a friend that might be having trouble with their own identity or is having trouble during this season of their life. What words can you use to show them that God gives them a place in his family?

Early Childhood Ministry Educator’s (ECME) Devotions are brought to you by WELS Commission on Lutheran Schools.

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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