Fully Devoted: An IntroductionSample

Who We Are Because of Jesus

Before we had a relationship with Jesus, we were held captive by sin and death. Now, we have been freed from sin and raised to life. Jesus disarmed the powers of sin and death—carving the path for us to be reunited with God. So now, anyone who is in Christ has become a new creation—not because of what we’ve done, but because of His radical grace and relentless love. 

The Apostle Paul said it so beautifully:

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 NIV

You are God’s handiwork. Some translations say, “His masterpiece.” When God sees you, He doesn’t see the shame you feel, the sins you’ve committed, or the doubts you may have. 

He sees a work of art. He sees His child. He sees someone who has been made with dignity, purpose, and value. He sees you as you really are—a human being made in His image. What does this mean? It means God sees past the scars that sin has etched on you and the mess shame has left in your life. 

He sees someone precious and full of potential.

As human beings, all of us are searching for the answers to these questions: Who am I? Where do I belong? What difference do I make? 

Through our relationship with Jesus, we discover our true identity—we’re adopted into God’s family and invited to play our part in God’s mission for the world. 

To be a Christian is to be a student of Jesus. That’s what the word “disciple” means. It comes from a Latin word that means student or learner.

We’re invited to be students of the One who created the heavens and the earth. We get to serve alongside the Suffering Servant. We get to be shepherded by the Good Shepherd. 

And the beautiful thing is, because of Jesus, we can live under His grace. So the shame and guilt the world wants to heap on you—or maybe that you’ve put on yourself—has no claim on you anymore. You are free. And God is going to continue healing and restoring you for as long as you’ll allow Him. 

Because of Jesus, we are made new, we’re being made whole, and we’ve been called to make a difference. This is who we are. Nothing and no one can change that. 

Will you choose to trust God and step into all that He’s made you to be?

Journaling Questions 

• Write down one of the verses from today’s reading. When you think about your identity, what comes to mind first? How similar or different is that to the new identity you have in Christ? 
• On an average day, how well do you live as a person called to represent our holy God? What is one thing you can do today to live out your God-given identity?

Memory Verse

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 NIV