One of the greatest things a father can do for their children is to speak identity into them.
Mark Jobe
This Week’s Bold Step
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:12
In 1986, at the age of 21, I found myself pastoring a small congregation in Chicago, serving in a community that faced a shifting demographic and economic decline. People were running from that neighborhood instead of staying. Our little church building had just 18 people attending at the time with gang members that sat outside on our steps selling drugs during services. I felt way over my head in that season of ministry.
Fast forward 38 years later and that church, New Life Community Church is a vibrant multi-ethnic, multi-demographic church with 27 locations that I co-pastor alongside my son, Josiah. Serving alongside him has been one of the greatest joys of my life even when he critiques my Sunday sermons. 😊
In 1 Timothy 6:11-12, Paul gives a very important exhortation to the young pastor at the church in Ephesus, Timothy, calling him a “man of God,” a title that no one else was given in the New Testament. Paul wanted to make sure that Timothy knew this is what he believed him to be and what he wanted him to remain. Knowing who you are in Christ aka your identity, provides the foundation or the clear blueprint for the direction of our lives.
I believe one of the greatest things a father can do for his children is to speak identity into their lives. Parents have the power to shape how children see themselves, for good or for bad. Identity determines behavior and children will ultimately step into what they believe they are as a result. In a world that seeks to define and rob us of our identity, it’s critical that a man or woman of God fight the fight within themselves and be what God wants them to be.
You can spot a man of God in these four ways:
- What he flees from
- What he pursues
- What he fights for
- What he obtains
May we each strive to become all that Christ is making us to be!
This devotional was written by Pastor Mark Jobe and used with permission from Moody Radio.
To learn more and to access other amazing resources please visit http://www.boldstepsradio.org/
