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June 24, 2021 8:00 pm
I once spoke at a secular conference for childless couples. Heartbroken over their infertility, many attendees despaired at their future. Having walked the childless path too, I tried to encourage them. “You can have a meaningful identity without becoming parents,” I said. “I believe you are fearfully and wonderfully made, and there’s new purpose for you to find.”
A woman later approached me in tears. “Thank you,” she said. “I’ve felt worthless being childless and needed to hear that I’m fearfully and wonderfully made.” I asked the woman if she was a Christian. “I walked away from God years ago,” she said. “But I need a relationship with Him again.”
Times like this remind me how profound the gospel is. Some identities, like “mother” and “father,” are hard for some to attain. Others, like those based on a career, can be lost through unemployment. But through Jesus we become God’s “dearly loved children”—an identity that can never be stolen (Ephesians 5:1). And then we can “walk in the way of love”—a life purpose that transcends any role or employment status (v. 2).
All human beings are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14), and those who follow Jesus become children of God (John 1:12–13). Once in despair, that woman left in hope—about to find an identity and purpose bigger than this world can give.
My friends and welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread but it was Jordan Boise and I've titled today's reading children of God once spoke of the secular conference for childless couples heartbroken over their infertility. Many attendees despaired of the future. Having walks the childless path to I tried to encourage them. You can have a meaningful identity without becoming parents. I said I believe you are fearfully and wonderfully made in his new purpose for you to find a woman later approached me in tears. Thank you. She said I felt worthless for being childless and needed to hear that I'm fearfully and wonderfully made.
I asked the woman if she was a believer in Jesus. I walked away from God.
Years ago she said but I need a relationship with him again. Times like this remind me how profound the gospel is some identities like mother and father are hard for some to attain. Others, like those based on a career can be lost through unemployment but through Jesus we become God's dearly loved children and identity that can never be stolen and then we can walk in the way of love life purpose that transcends any role or employment status. Someone hundred and 39 tells us that all human beings are fearfully and wonderfully made in John chapter 1 says those who fully Jesus become children of God. Once in despair that woman lifting hope about to find an identity and purpose bigger than this world can give today's Scripture reading is from Ephesians chapter 4 verse 32 through to chapter 5. This 10 be kind and compassionate to one another for giving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you fully God's example.
Therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you must not be even a hint of sexual immorality or any kind of impurity or of greed.
Because these are improper for God's holy people, nor should they be obscenity, foolish talk of course joking, which are out of place, but rather Thanksgiving. For this you can be sure no immoral, impure or greedy person. Such a person is my daughter has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, because of such things God's Roth comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore, do not be partners with them, for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth and find out what pleases the let's pray together, Lord, thank you for making me your child today. I embrace this is my prime identity before I am a teacher or not a store engineer or any other occupational identity before I'm a mother or a father or husband or wife or even a friend. I am your dearly beloved child impel me by your spirit to walk in the way of love today. It's in Jesus name I pray in today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread ministries
