Remember Whose You Are

  " Remember whose you are".... This was how I remember every service ending in college when I visited Main Street Baptist. I look back on it with gratitude that  Pastor spoke this every Sunday. I can't remember what his name is off hand but those words have stayed with me. They especially came to mind as I read Romans 8:16 and Philemon today.

Romans 8:16 tells us:
 The  Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are a child of God

I love the ARE part because its not you maybe are but it is  yes you are a child of God! I think that's fitting for the story even told in Philemon.  The message of Philemon  especially verse 8-16 is about freedom. Onesimus was a slave who had stolen some possessions from his master. Not only that but he ran away. However, his story didn't end there because God let him cross paths with Paul. Because their paths crossed Onesimus  became a Christian. Onesimus story allows us to know that we can change from our past!

We can have new beginnings! At the same time we have the perspective of Paul. Will we look on others with love? I honestly don't know any Christian who has this down perfect but  maybe were like the slave who needed to know He had a second chance or were like Paul who needs to look at people with love!

The reality were going to have days  where its tough to love or its hard to remember who we are but when we live those two out our lives become flipped upside down in ways we can't imagine. Or maybe your like me. You have to remind your perfectionist self your going to have days or moments your sliding. Just remember its your choice to choose to claim the promise of who you are!

 Therefore I end with Philemon 1:16

 No LONGER as a slave but MORE than a slave- as a dearly loved brother. He is especially to me, but even MORE in the flesh and  IN THE LORD

* Is your motive love?
* Are you living in the Who YOU ARE and not the I am not?