February 11, 2001

Monica,

There was a fable about a swan that was born among ducks. He saw himself as being an ugly duckling. Then a beautiful swan flew overhead and told him he was not an ugly duckling but a beautiful swan. He redefined himself and flew with the swans. The devil has most Christians going around talking about what miserable wretches we are. It is in songs like "Amazing Grace" and "Victory in Jesus." It is wrong. It might be okay if it said, "and saved a wretch as I used to be." We who are born again need to redefine ourselves and see ourselves as God see us. We have so much more potential than the pastors and teachers in our pasts have taught us. We are sons of God. We can do the works Jesus did and greater works. We are brothers of the King of kings. We are created in the image of the one who spoke something into existence out of nothing.

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

We have been fed a false self image. We need to see who we really are--literally God’s kids. We are spotlessly clean and have a free gift of righteousness. We are not puffed up with pride because we know our righteousness was not earned by ourselves but is a free gift. However, it is a gift that has to be received by faith, and most of us were only taught what ugly wretches we are.

Don’t buy that wretch stuff anymore. Be redefined by what God says we are. We are his kids, and he as exciting plans for each one of us if we are willing to walk in those plans. Jeremiah 29 is addressing the children of Israel, but in the new covenant that is we. [Galatians 3:7]

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

That is worth meditating on right there. God has been thinking about you.

Love,

Dad