Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Let’s continue our recognition tour, in preparation for Thanksgiving, by recognizing who we are.

Today’s scripture, Psalms 100:3 (NLT) exhorts…
[3] Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Consider…
Thus far our pre-Thanksgiving recognition tour has visited…

• Our Heavenly Father’s relationship with us
• The second person in the Trinity, The Son of God
• The God given Name above all names

Today, we’ll look a little closer to home, which is who we are.

“to thine own self be true,” is a quote from William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. It means you should be authentic and live according to your own principles and values, rather than changing to please others.

Shakespeare’s quote has been updated to “Live your truth”, which means being authentic by aligning your actions with your core beliefs, feelings, and sense of self, rather than conforming to societal expectations.

While at first glance the thought of living authentically seems like good advice, it’s unstable…

• Core beliefs are learned
• Feelings are emotional rollercoasters
• Sense of self is situationally determined

More importantly, living according to our principles and values is dangerous and not biblical.

Jeremiah 17:9 (NLT) points out…
[9] “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

Basing who I am on how I feel is dangerous, because feelings are unstable, irrational and can be easily manipulated and influenced.

Genesis 3:6-7 (NLT) illustrates this…
[6] The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. [7] At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

Eve ate the forbidden fruit because she ‘felt’ like it. But notice how that fleeting feeling of pleasure quickly turned into shame.

So the first observation is we must not be defined by how we feel.

Reading further we discover something else transformational in our self discovery…

Genesis 3:8-11 (NLT)
[8] When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees. [9] Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” [10] He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” [11] “Who told you that you were naked?” the LORD God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”

• Shame makes you hide in fear…I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid
• Fear reframes your perspective…I was afraid because I was naked
• Disobedience introduces false narratives…“Who told you that you were naked?”

The Holy Spirit showed me something subtle about the last bullet. Let’s look at verse 7 again…

At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness.

Notice nothing physically changed about Adam and Eve, just their perspective. Let me remind you that Genesis 2:25 (NLT) says…
[25] Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.

I have normally looked at the fall of Adam and Eve being only sin and death being the consequence of disobedience. But the Holy Spirit showed me more this morning.

In Genesis 2:25, there was no shame in their identity in God, however in Genesis 3:6-7 shame came seeing themselves outside of Him.

That’s why the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:1 (NLT)…
[1] So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

Do you see it, our shameless identity only exists in God, seeing ourselves any other way is shameful.

An additional thought about living in the truth that is real rather than a lie that we feel is Oxford Languages defines feeling as…

• an emotional state or reaction.
• a belief, especially a vague or irrational one.

So I ask, why would you want to live true to vague and irrational beliefs? Yet this is what society tells us to do.

That’s why Romans 12:2 (NLT) tells us…
[2] Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

The same way God wanted Adam and Eve to live according to His good, pleasing and perfect will for them, He still wants the same for us.

God wants us to recognize who we are based on Who He is and who He says we are.

You see, when we view ourselves according to ourselves, we tend to have a skewed and biased inflated opinion. That’s because we focus only our good, and believe others should extend grace for our minor flaws.

That’s why Paul continues with Romans 12:3 (NLT)…
[3] Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

Notice Paul tells us to measure ourselves by our God given faith, not our achievements or shortcomings.

So why our faith? Fortunately, Paul explains in Romans 12:4-8 (NLT)…
[4] Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, [5] so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. [6] In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. [7] If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. [8] If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

This highlights a key point in our self discovery, we are gifted for God’s glory to fulfill Christ’s story.

As a matter of fact, it’s not a coincidence that God calls our abilities to do certain things well, gifts. That’s because gifts were meant to be given for the benefit of others. That’s why 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT) explains…
[10] God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

Accordingly, let’s recognize we are gifted to serve others for God.

Contuing our self discovery we find Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) which declares…
[10] For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Notice we are God’s masterpiece. That’s because as the saying goes, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, which means that what one person finds beautiful, another may not, because beauty is subjective and based on personal taste and perspective.

This emphasizes the most important fact of who we are, which is who God says!

Everytime I read that verse now, I hear Dan Gokey singing the lyrics…

Heartbreaks a bittersweet sound
Know it well
It’s ringing in my ears
And I can’t understand
Why I’m not fixed by now
Begged and I pleaded
Take this pain but I’m still bleeding

Heart trusts you for certain
Head says it’s not working
I’m stuck here still hurting
But you tell me

You’re making a masterpiece
You shaping the soul in me
You’re moving where I can’t see
And all I am is in your hands
You’re taking me all apart
Like it was your plan from the start
To finish your work of art for all to see you’re making a masterpiece

Guess I’m your canvas
Beautiful black and blue
Painted in mercy’s hue
I don’t see past this
But you see me now
Who I’ll be then
There at the end
Standing there as

Your Masterpiece
You’re shaping the soul in me
You’re moving where I can’t see
And all I am is in your hands
You’re taking me all apart
Like it was your plan from the start
To finish your work of art for all to see
You’re making a masterpiece
You’re making a masterpiece

Even though I’m hurting
I’ll let you keep working
You’re making a masterpiece
You’re shaping the soul in me
You’re moving where I can’t see
And all I am is in your hands

You’re taking me all apart
Like it was your plan from the start
To finish your work of art for all to see you’re making a masterpiece
You’re making a masterpiece

I’ll be your masterpiece

I imagine those lyrics resonate with many of you as they did with me, when my wife shared the song with me at a time my self-esteem was at its lowest.

But, there’s a cavaet to being God’s masterpiece, which is that it’s not about our story, it’s for His glory.

You see, Ephesians 2:10 explains, we’re made anew (in Christ) to do (what God pre-planned).

So Ephesians 2:10 let’s us know that We’re…

• God’s Masterpiece
• Created anew in Christ
• Created to do good works for God

Speaking of recognizing we’re made for God’s glory, as part of Christ’s story, Jesus said in Matthew 5:13-16 (NLT)…
[13] “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. [14] “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. [15] No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. [16] In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

We must recognize we are…

• God’s salt, that He shakes to add His flavor to unseasoned situations and circumstances others find themselves in
• God’s lights, to illuminate Jesus’ runway to the Father for others stuck on the tarmack of darkness.
• God’s lit deeds that meets others needs, demonstrating how much He loves and cares for them

In case it’s not crystalizing completely, we are God’s people for His purpose.

That brings us full circle to today’s verse. Recall it says…
Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

The Holy Spirit is telling us to recognize

• We are made by God
• We are made for God
• We belong to God

1 Corinthians 7:23 (NLT) adds…
[23] God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world.

That introduces we’re also redeemed. You see, because of Adam’s disobedience, we were slaves to sin.

Romans 5:18-19 (NLT) explains…
[18] Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. [19] Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

And three chapters later we read, in Romans 8:12-16 (NLT)…
[12] Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. [13] For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. [14] For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. [15] So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” [16] For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

Do you see it…

• We’re free, from the power of sin
• We’re changed from sin’s slaves to God’s children

However, again there’s a cavaet to our new found freedom, which is explained in Galatians 5:13 (NLT)…
[13] For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

Notice, God redeemed us to serve others, not satisfy ourselves.

So I would add that…

• we are freed to serve others, not satisfy ourselves

Lastly, I think what I appreciate most about who God says I, is loved. 1 John 4:9-10 (NLT)…
[9] God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. [10] This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

That hit play on God’s affirmation sung by Travis Greene…

Who am I
That I remain on your mind
I don’t know but I’m grateful God
What have I done
To deserve Your only Son?
I don’t know but You’re faithful

I thank You for not
Leaving me where
You found me God

I am loved by You
I am loved by You
Just as I am
Feels good to be loved by You

It’s wonderful to recognize that we loved, but it’s also important that God also expects us to be loving in response to His love.
1 John 4:11 (NLT) stipulates…
[11] Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.

So, we should include our self recogniton that we’re…

• Loved
• Loving

The last thing the Holy Spirit wants us to recognize about who we are today is that we are Christ’s living vessels. He referred me to Galatians 2:20 (NLT)…
[20] My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

The Holy Spirit added 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT) declares…
[27] All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

So today, let’s recognize that our true identity is found in God alone, and you are who He says you are!

Today’s song is…
You Say

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)