Brennan Manning in his wonderful book, The Rabbi’s Heartbeat, says,
Define yourself as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is an illusion. (p.40)
We may do foolish, even downright sinful things, yet as Steve Brown likes to say,
But God is still fond of me.
Can you say the same? Do you know the unconditional love of the Father despite your brokenness? If not, ask the Lord to enable you to experience His love which is greater than life itself.
That leads us into the next point…
2. Jesus lived from His identity as the Son of His Father.
Jesus has been called the “Human Face of God”. He bears the family resemblance. His identity was as the only-begotten Son of His Father. Jesus never lived separate from His Abba.
John 1:1,14
Heb 1:1-3
Col 1:13-15
John 5:17-30
John 8:28-29
Because I’m in Christ (1Cor 1:30), I can live as Abba’s child, finding my identity in being the beloved child of the Father. I become like Him as I by faith yield to Him and focus on Him.
John 1:12
1 John 3:1-3
2Cor 3:17-18
Col 3:1-4
The realization that the Father has placed me in Christ His Son and that He, the Perfect Child of the Father, lives in me enables me to live day by day in union with the Father and the Son.
3. Jesus lived with trust and submission to His Father even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
Matthew 26: 36-46
Heb 5: 7-10
As Abba’s child I can trust my Father in every circumstance, no matter how mundane or dark. I can trust in His presence, provision, and purpose.
Heb 12:5-11
Romans 8:28-30
Ps 23:4
Ps 139:12,23-24
Application Questions:
1. What keeps you from living as a “child” in relationship with your Abba?
2. What might change if you began living as a child with your Abba, rather than trying to live as an adult on your own?
Brennan Manning states that
The positive qualities of a child—openness, playfulness, simplicity, sensitivity to feelings—restrain us from closing ourselves off to new ideas, surprises of the Spirit, and risky opportunities for growth.
3. Spend some time with the previous questions…and with your Abba. Ask Him to enable you to walk with Him as His beloved, vulnerable child today.
Suggested reading: Gospel of John — look at the relationship between the Father & Jesus the Son Return of the Prodigal by Henri J.M. Nouwen Abba’s Child by Brennan Manning The Rabbi’s Heartbeat by Brennan Manning
[first posted May 2011]