Just like we are having a conversation here every week we encourage you to grab some friends and have conversations about Jesus. Many times it is as we are talking about Jesus that we begin to see Him in our midst, just like those on the Emmaus road did.
Today Kwan Porter and I continue our conversation on identity by taking another look at a story about two sons and their loving father in Luke 15:11-32.
We pick up the story with the wayward son coming home in Luke 15:20. His plan is to simply ask his father to make him a hired servant. The father sees him a long way off, feels compassion for him, runs to him and kisses him. The father shows the son unconditional love.
However, in verse 21 the son contextualizes his identity based on his experience. He tries to define who he is to the father. This is what we do so often when we encounter the love of God. The son says, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.” The son wasn’t wrong. He wasn’t worthy. But the Father didn’t base his love on his son’s actions. He said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fattened calf. Let us eat and celebrate for this son of mine. . .”
Sit in that affirmation with us today. “This son of mine.” Father God calls us sons and daughters. We are not just servants.
Yes, as sons we know there that we serve just like Jesus. “He came not to be served but to serve.” However, serving that flows from identity is completely different than serving as slaves. Yes, we serve everyone, our families, our friends, and our enemies. But serving does not give us our identity. We are sons and daughters.
Why do we think we get to redefine who we are? The father doesn’t even acknowledge what the son says. He simply restores him. He proclaims, “This son of mine was dead and has come to life again.” The father then tells his servants to give his son a ring, a robe, and sandals. Each of these represents an aspect of His identity and position as a son.
- Ring – his authority as a son, his ability to act on behalf of his father.
- Robe – that the son has the father’s protection and covering. That robe for us is Jesus Himself. He is our perpetual robe of righteousness, wrapped around us for all eternity.
- Sandals – we have the father’s full provision to walk in His ways. He gives us what we need to carry out and execute the Fathers will.
In a world where everyone is trying to define their own identity, it is important we know who we are and rest in our identity in Christ. As parents this will shape how we relate to our children. If we live in a place where we have to earn our identity, we have to control things, including our children. If we think we can earn our identity, we strive and try to force things on others.
Choose to rest in your identity in Christ this week.
