What if we saw each other in the family of God as we really are?

I’ve been thinking a lot about this question lately. We conservative evangelicals (and I’m sure others) have been really good at judging one another lately and attributing motives to one another (both publicly and privately) that we have no way of knowing. Why? Because we are not God, and we have not walked in our brother or sister’s shoes.

And as much as I have been grieved to see and hear this all around me, I have been grieved to see and “hear” this in myself. As I am repenting, relationship by relationship, situation after situation, I’m experiencing the transformation of my mind by the Holy Spirit to see the people closest to me as they truly are (despite their behavior, which only shows that they have “feet of clay,” as do I).

Here’s something we can all start with (see below). All of these beautiful truths are yours if you are IN CHRIST. But guess what! They are true of every other believer who has Jesus — young or old, rich or poor, black or white, republican or democrat, cranky or sweet…

Let’s think about that! And come along with me if you dare. I’m going to revisit some thoughts and maybe share new ones as the Lord leads us along.

But start right here please… because God did all of this in order to recreate us and bring us into a love relationship with Himself.
He made us worthy sanctuaries, dwelling-places of the Living God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
Amen.

Because I am in Christ...

I Am Loved
I am a child of God-John 1:12
I am beloved-Romans 9:25
I am chosen-Colossians 3:12
I am loved by God as much as Jesus is-John 17:23, 26
I am Jesus's friend-John 15:15
I am inseparable from God's love-Romans 8:37-39

I Am Acceptable
I am accepted by God-Romans 15:7
I am righteous-2 Corinthians 5:21
I am a saint-1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:1 (NASB)
I am not condemned-Romans 8:1
I am completely forgiven-Colossians 2:13
I am holy and blameless-Ephesians 1:4

I Am Valuable
I am God's masterpiece-Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
I am adopted-Ephesians 1:5
I am God's treasure-Matthew 13:44
I am God's pearl-Matthew 13:45-46
I am a new creation-2 Corinthians 5:17
I am designed by God-Psalm 139:13-16

I Am Secure
I am more than a conqueror-Romans 8:37
I am complete in Christ-Colossians 2:10
I am safe in Christ-Colossians 3:3-4
I am seated in the heavenly realms-Ephesians 2:6
I am eternally in Christ-John 10:28
I am united with Christ-1 Corinthians 6:17

(From God's Best-Kept Secret: Christianity Is Easier Than You Think by Mark Maulding)