ONE: FCA Reading Plan For CompetitorsPrimjer

What Is Your Name?

By Kerry O’Neill

READY:

“Then Jesus demanded, ‘What is your name?’ And he replied, ‘My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.’” – Mark 5:9 

SET:

There are distinct differences in cultures of teams who practice put-downs and teams that practice put-ups. Sadly, however, the biggest put-downs tend to come from ourselves.

Imagine a coach asking an athlete her name, and she replies, “Slow.” Another player answers, “Fat,” and another answers “Average.” Or you introduce yourself to a coach and ask him his name, and he says, “Loser.”  

The truth is, Jesus likely asked this man his name not because He didn’t know, but because He wanted to see what name the man gave himself. Legion is a term for a Roman army unit consisting of 6,000 soldiers. This man had obvious, serious problems he was battling. And to me, it appears that he allowed his problem to become a label with which he self-identified.

Jesus ends up healing this man, setting him free from the demons inside him, restoring him to his family and giving him back his self-worth. And Jesus wants to do the same with you. You are not who the crowd, your opponent or anyone else says you are. You are His child—the one He created with His own hands for a good purpose!

GO:

1. What labels have others given you?

2. In what ways does the Lord desire to restore you and raise your self-worth?

3. How can you grow to accept the compliments and praise of others without putting yourself down?

WORKOUT:

Judges 6:12

Isaiah 43:1

John 10:3

OVERTIME: 

“Jesus, may ‘Child of God’ be the identity in which I compete and live. In Your name I pray. Amen.”