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Happy New Year Friends and Family,
I think it’s important to start the new year off right! And as we cross over into the journey of a new year, new months, new weeks, new days and new hours spent, let’s cross over with a new attitude and a new life long challenge. I’ve chosen John 1:12, “Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”
Many of us define ourselves by what we do or have done in the past. You might be or have been a teacher, or a firefighter, or an accountant—and you say, “that’s who I am.” But God’s plans often lead us outside of the very things we believe define us. So, what does that mean?
Our ultimate defining identities are not in what we do, but in who we are; children of God. It sounds simple, but it’s a deeply profound truth.
Receiving Jesus and identifying as a child of God isn’t passive. It’s not just slapping on a name tag and continuing life as usual. Taking on that identity is a daily, active decision. It means fully accepting Jesus’ love, authority, and call on our lives.
Here’s the beauty of receiving Him. He gives us the freedom to live beyond labels, past wounds, and even seemingly good things that can hold us physically or emotionally captive. He breaks the chains of people living in poverty, addiction, or grief.
You are no longer a child of brokenness. You are a child of God. You are imbued with the dignity and worth of our Creator. That new identity is like a superhero origin story; it changes everything! When you receive Jesus, this is your story, You are God’s child. You belong. You are loved. You are free.
When was the last time you stopped to reflect on the fact that you are a beloved child of God? Take a moment today to thank Him for welcoming you into His family.
So be encouraged!
Jesus doesn’t just save us—He transforms us. And He adopts us as His own! So, here’s the challenge for the new journey: There are people all around you who haven’t yet trusted in Jesus. Take a step of faith and tell them how He’s changed your life and invite them to receive Jesus into their life as well.
Living and loving in Christ together,
Pastor Kathi Kraus