The Power of Redeemed IdentitySample

Day 5– Identity Renewed: The Spirit of Adoption

We have seen how Jesus was “armored up” by God by the Father’s public proclamation and affirmation of his Divine Identity. The enemy’s temptations fell on deaf ears because he was affirmed in his Sonship, Matthew 3:16-17. Men today are no different. We crave, especially in our formative years, the “attaboys” that can come from our fathers (or other significant males in our lives).

In some communities, young men never get to meet or even know their fathers. This is an ongoing tragedy which can lead to underachievement, antisocial/criminal behaviors, addiction, divorce and more. The statistics on the fallout from fatherlessness tell a sad story. To get more insight on this, go to the Legacy Minded Men website, and search for an excellent video special, “The Fatherless Epidemic”.

Did you typically hear positive words of affirmation from your Dad or another male authority figure? Perhaps not. The power of a father’s words – negative or positive – is inestimable. In my own childhood, I spent much time and energy trying to “achieve” things that would get my dad’s attention, yearning to hear his “attaboy”. All men need that.

If we don’t hear positive words spoken over us from the right source, we may seek it out in unhealthy yet societally acceptable ways: such as being a “professional student” in early adulthood; always working on the next degree; or in addiction to work, which is often celebrated, but eventually yields negative returns at home.

A child can be “abandoned” emotionally by a father who returns home from work every night but who is too spent to have anything left to give to his children. They grow up with a deep deficit of love and attention. Too many hours at work can also lead to adulterous affairs. When the truth eventually gets revealed, great emotional pain is the result for the entire family. Children are also the victims of parents’ adulterous affairs.

Men from “underprivileged” neighborhoods can get their affirmation and sense of belonging by joining gangs. This leads to all kinds of destructive results, including criminal records, serious injury, or even early death. Younger women, often unprepared for the task, struggle alone to raise children without adequate support. When men choose the wrong path in life, children wind up without fathers, or sometimes get trapped in a home with an abusive, angry or distant father. We hunger for affirmation and will usually find it, whether in a good or a destructive way.

The Remedy is twofold – choosing forgiveness (which we shall discuss in another chapter) – it is a major piece of recovery and restoration; and truth - replacing our negative childhood messages with the Word of God. Consider this amazing truth found in Romans 8 -

15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

We were not rejected (by God, the Ultimate Father) – but we were SELECTED! Meditate on that truth, often – see how it affects how you see yourself!

Prayer:

“Lord, help me to fully embrace my new identity as your beloved child. Amen”.