More Than “Just”
When Jesus came to his home town of Nazareth, people were skeptical and used derogatory and scarcity language to attempt to define him (Mark 6:3): “Isn’t this Mary’s son?” With this statement, they were subtly calling him a “momma’s baby – papa’s maybe” child. They assumed Mary had been creepin’ on Joseph and they really didn’t know who the father was. Subtly they were calling Jesus a “bastard child,” an illegitimate son. “He’s just a carpenter.” They were using scarcity language to define, undervalue and minimize the Son of God.
Like people attempted to define who Jesus was with derogatory and scarcity language, they will attempt to define you and undervalue you with that same kind of language:
You are “just” a _______________________________ (fill in the blank)
He is greater than your past.
He greater than what has happened to you.
He is greater than labels and incomplete definitions.
He is greater than the foreclosure, greater than the addiction, greater than the abortion, greater than the divorce, greater than the abusive home, greater than your absent parents, greater than the layoff, greater than a rejection letter, greater than your failure, greater than the ridicule for being smart or not being so smart. God is greater than what has happened to you.
God is greater than your skin color, greater than your hair texture, greater than your facial features and your body composition. He is greater than your education or lack of education. Greater than your family and greater than the fact you didn’t have a family. He is greater than the labels that others put on you.
Let this next sentence wash over your heart. You are more than “just.” If you are a believer in and follower of Jesus, then you are:
forgiven
chosen
adopted
treasured
loved
special
included
on His mind all the time
People will always try and define you with scarcity language, and if we are not careful, we will begin to believe what they say. However, remember that you are more than “just.” You are who God says you are. You are a treasured child of the King.
in what ways have people attempted to define you, using scarcity language? How did you respond? How will knowing you are more than “just” help you respond differently?
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Tags: Image of God, Self Image, Self Reflection
November 12th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Very good information and some good words when wittnessing to others!And aslso ministering doing altar workI just love it.And I can relate to it myself
November 24th, 2009 at 12:01 am
Thanks, Shirley.
March 9th, 2011 at 8:56 am
Just passing through and grabbed a hold of this precious nugget to add to my soul crown. I am what He says that I am. How excellent! Thanks Pastor Williams for opening my eyes to the vastness of God's plans and purposes for my life. I grew up in a broken environment. I have lived my adult life in the same brokenness; yet, I am not broken. Thanks again for being a tour guide on this journey called life. I finally "get it"! Be blessed!
March 9th, 2011 at 8:13 pm
thank you for sharing your God-given "treasures". I truly appreciate it.God bless you ..
March 23rd, 2011 at 8:46 am
I don't know how I missed this one but it is so on time for me in this season of dealing with a lot of abuse and trauma from my past. Having spent 29 years of those experiences, the words and actions of others defining me I am finally in a place where God is delivering me from those things so I can be free from their negative effects and labels and so I can walk in His definition and label of me which is that I am loved, valued, fearfully and wonderfully made, God has a purpose for me, and above all that I am forgiven.
Thank you for allowing God to speak through you to me while I'm in this valley season.