DRAWING NEAR

January 7

Avoiding a Spiritual Identity Crisis


God "chose us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world"
(Eph. 1:4).


A true sense of identity comes from knowing that God Himself
personally selected you to be His child.

Many people in our society are on a seemingly endless and often
frantic quest for personal identity and self-worth. Identity crises
are common at almost every age level. Superficial love and fractured
relationships are but symptoms of our failure to resolve the
fundamental issues of who we are, why we exist, and where we're
going. Sadly, most people will live and die without ever
understanding God's purpose for their lives.

That is tragic, yet understandable. God created man to bear His image
and enjoy His fellowship forever. But when Adam and Eve disobeyed
God, they violated that purpose and plunged the human race into sin.
That created within man a spiritual void and an identity crisis of
unimaginable proportions.

Throughout the ages ungodly people have
tried to fill that void with a myriad of substitutes but ultimately
all is lost to death and despair.

Despite that bleak picture, a true sense of identity is available to
every Christian. It comes from knowing that God Himself personally
selected you to be His child. Before the world began, God set his
love upon you and according to His plan Christ died for you (1 Pet.
1:20). That's why you responded in faith to the gospel (2 Thess.
2:13). Also, that's why you can never lose your salvation. The same
God who drew you to Himself will hold you there securely (John
10:29).

Don't allow sin, Satan, or circumstances to rob your sense of
identity in Christ.

who you are: God's child; why you are here: to serve and glorify Him;
and where you are going: to spend eternity in His presence.

Suggestions for Prayer:

 Thank God for choosing you to be His child and for drawing you to
Himself in saving faith.

 Praise Him for His promise never to let you go.


For Further Study:

Read John 6:35-44; 10:27-30; Romans 8:31-39.

 According to Jesus, how many believers will lose their salvation?
What was his reasoning?

 What did Paul base his certainty on?

Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.


All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org

~~~


1 Peter 1:20
20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world,
but was manifest in these last times for you

2 Thessalonians 2:13
13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren
beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for
salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the
truth

John 10:29
29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no
one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.

John 6:35-44
35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to
Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
36 "But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.
37 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who
comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
38 "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the
will of Him who sent Me.
39 "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has
given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last
day.
40 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees
the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will
raise him up at the last day."
41 The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, "I am the
bread which came down from heaven."
42 And they said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose
father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, 'I have come
down from heaven'?"
43 Jesus therefore answered and said to them, "Do not murmur among
yourselves.
44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him;
and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 10:27-30
27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;
neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no
one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.
30 "I and My Father are one."

Romans 8:31-39
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can
be against us?
32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us
all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who
justifies.
34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is
also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes
intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation,
or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword?
36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We
are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him
who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor
principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able
to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord.

~~~

These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.

In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.

If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.

You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:

http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/

and

http://www.gty.org.uk/

You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org



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In Christ,



Peter

Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com

STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner
was you. -Alistair Begg