• Home
  • About
  • Confident Faith
    • Christianity
    • Women of Faith
    • Weight Loss Journey
  • Confident Marriage
    • Marriage
    • Marriage Resources for Christians
  • Confident Parenting
    • Parenting
  • Confident Blogging
    • Blogging
    • Favorite Link-ups
  • Work with Me
    • Graphic Design
  • FREE Resource Library

Being Confident Of This

Grace for the work-in-progress woman

Like a Proud Big Brother: Your Identity in Christ

October 9, 2013 by stultsmamaof4 10 Comments

One day after our seven-year-old’s soccer game, he waited in line at the concession stand.  The rest of the family waited a few feet away, arms full of camping chairs and water bottles, ready to head back to our trusty minivan.

I watched as our son’s easy grin lit up his face while he talked animatedly with a teammate behind him.  His team had remained undefeated, and he was on cloud nine!

He called out to his younger brother to join him.

As the four-year-old brother bounced closer to him, our middle son’s smile widened and his eyes crinkled.  He bent down to the younger’s level

“This is my brother, ” he told his teammate.

“Say, hi!” he encouraged the four-year-old.

Pride shone forth from his face as he talked about how he teaches his younger brother and sister how to “do sports” and how they listen to him and do what he says.

This conversation totally changed my perspective on Christ and how He feels about people like me! He's like a proud big brother who just can't wait to show us off. Such encouragement for those days when we feel utterly worthless. identity in Christ, Christian women, women of faith, devotional thought, our relationship with Christ, Christian encouragement

 

He put his arm around the four-year-old in a protective and possessive way, completely pleased to be the big brother.  “Gimme five,” he instructed.  The younger brother gladly obliged and bounced back to where the rest of the family waited.

Then, he called over his younger sister, also four, and the scenario played out all over again. She giggling and he smiling in her face.  Her quick wave to the teammate was cute and girly.  She, too, gave a five and then pranced back to join us.

I listened as our son and his teammate continued to converse. “So, they’re like your minions?!” the teammate asked, impressed.

“Yeah, pretty much. They’re my minions.” Our seven-year-old nodded his head.

As I laughed quietly, I realized how true it is.  They are his minions.

They trust him.

They listen to him.

And most of the time, they do his bidding.

But he also cares for them.

He helps them.  He plays with them.  He loves on them.  He gives things to them.

And when his friends are around, he introduces them with such beaming pride that you would think he birthed those two four-year-olds himself!

I didn’t think much more of that overheard conversation until later that week when I attended a Beth Moore simulcast.  She spoke on grace and law, how we often trust grace for salvation, but we fail to trust it in our everyday lives.

 Instead, we walk as if still under the law, guilty and defeated, when we could be living free and victorious!  We so often neglect to embrace our identity in Christ.

At the end of the day, Beth brought our attention to the fact that we, who are in Christ, are fully accepted by God; there is nothing more or less we can do to “please” Him.  Then, she ended with a speech given to us, one phrase at a time, to repeat to a partner.

It was a speech of words about who we are in Christ, and a speech about how Jesus would present us, His sisters of inheritance.

As I spoke the words aloud to my partner, I suddenly recalled my seven-year-old’s beaming face.

And I. was. undone.

Because that’s exactly how Jesus feels about each one of us, my friends!  

He’s the proud big brother; in His eyes, we are something to be joyful about.  

That’s our identity in Christ – that Someone is proud to have us in His family, proud to call us His own!

Jesus, our brother

Just imagine it with me now:

With a smile on His face, He calls you to His side, slings His arm around your shoulder, and proclaims for all to hear…

Father, this is my sister.  Isn’t she great?

Look how beautiful she is!  I love her so much that I willingly gave my life for her, covered her sins in my blood.

She is infinitely precious to me, a daughter of the King.

The Father smiles back at Him and nods in agreement.

The Christ-brother holds out His hand for a celebratory five.

And the angels rejoice!

Let’s live from that identity in Christ, friends.

Because we have a proud big brother.

And His name is Jesus!

Jen 🙂

To read Beth’s commissioning prayer (and other goodies from the simulcast – like the Grace Poem), click here.

And if you’re interested in learning more about your identity in Christ, join our newsletter list of thousands of work-in-progress women who are learning to find godly confidence. We’ll send you this FREE min-devotional:

Grab your FREE 5-day, mini-devotional! Reflections on the Cross by Jen Stults is the perfect reminder to preach the gospel to yourself.  #christianwomen #freeprintable #biblestudy #devotional Being Confident of This | community of work-in-progress women | progress not perfection | identity in Christ | Christian confidence | godly confidence | gospel | Jesus | Easter meditations | resurrection meditations

Filed Under: Christianity, Women of Faith Tagged With: big brothers, Christ, Christian living, Christianity, Devotional Thought, Encouragement, God the Father, Grace, Identity in Christ, Jesus, siblings

Comments

  1. Amy says

    October 10, 2013 at 05:35

    Oh my goodness! I love this!! Thinking of him as a big brother just fills my spirit! I am the older sibling, so I haven’t experienced the older, protective brother in my family, but God has sent those people to guide me through different seasons of my life!! So great to think of my Risen Savior as one of those people… one who will never leave me!!

    I stumbled upon your blog through the Serving Joyfully link up! I am really glad I did! I host a weekly link up on Mondays called “Monday Praises”. It is still starting up, but this post is exactly what I am hoping for!! I would love it if you would prayerfully consider stopping by and linking up on Mondays!!
    http://www.walkhumblywithgod.wordpress.com
    Thanks again!!!

    Reply
  2. Becky says

    October 10, 2013 at 07:04

    Lovely! Great analogy! and so very true!

    Reply
  3. juliaandzennanjulia says

    October 10, 2013 at 15:50

    aww what a beautiful post 🙂

    Reply
  4. Nay @ coffee-n-ink says

    October 10, 2013 at 16:04

    Lovely post – thank you for this and for stopping by D2I neighbor;)

    Reply
    • stultsmamaof4 says

      October 11, 2013 at 00:46

      Thanks for stopping by to encourage me, too, Nay!
      Jen 🙂

      Reply
  5. melcaldicott says

    October 12, 2013 at 01:59

    Aw, this is such a sweet story with a beautiful truth God has shown us through it.
    Thanks for linking up at Essential Fridays.
    Blessings
    Mel from Essential Thing Devotions & Connect With God

    Reply
    • stultsmamaof4 says

      October 17, 2013 at 01:55

      Thanks, Mel! I appreciate the opportunity to link-up and to read what others have to share, as well.
      Jen 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Ordinary People, Extraordinary Children | Being Confident of This says:
    October 11, 2013 at 00:38

    […] Like a Proud Big Brother Oct […]

    Reply
  2. Truth, Opposite of Lie | Being Confident of This says:
    November 8, 2013 at 00:40

    […] But “I can’t” is also a lie because I’m not on my own.  I’m in Christ.  And in Christ, I am more than a conqueror.  That’s right – more, sisters!  In Christ, I am already victorious.  In Christ, I am also fully loved, fully accepted, fully provided for, fully complete. […]

    Reply
  3. Fighting Fear With Pre-approval | Being Confident of This says:
    April 22, 2014 at 22:31

    […] all the while fearing that we just aren’t good enough. We’ll miss the irony that we are already pre-approved by the most powerful Person in all of creation because of His Son!  If we could only grasp that […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hi, I'm Jen: a work in progress. I'm imperfect - a mom of four, pastor's wife, discipler, and sinner saved only by grace. I like to sing, read, write, teach, and smile. I have a heart for encouraging women everywhere to understand God's limitless love for them and what His grace means for everyday living. Welcome! :) Read More…

Contact Me

jstults[at]beingconfidentofthis[dot]com

Reader Favorites:

  • Why Reading Isn't Enough ~ Study the Bible
    Why Reading Isn't Enough ~ Study the Bible
  • 6 More Benefits of Studying God's Word
    6 More Benefits of Studying God's Word
  • 7 Scriptures for a Steadfast Heart
    7 Scriptures for a Steadfast Heart
  • 7 Creative Methods for Teaching Scripture to Children
    7 Creative Methods for Teaching Scripture to Children
  • 5 Promising Benefits of Personal Bible Study
    5 Promising Benefits of Personal Bible Study
  • Six Practical Ways to Take Your Thoughts Captive
    Six Practical Ways to Take Your Thoughts Captive
  • Spiritual Warfare Verses That Pack a Punch
    Spiritual Warfare Verses That Pack a Punch
  • For the Wife Who Doesn't Feel Like Celebrating Love
    For the Wife Who Doesn't Feel Like Celebrating Love

Share This Blog:

Facebook Twitter More...

Christian Living Link-up

Grace and Truth Christian Living Link-up for Christian bloggers, faith bloggers, parenting, marriage, faith

Find hope for your marriage again – Hope for the Hurting Wife

Hope for the Hurting Wife: 30 Days of Practical Encouragement for Your Marriage.   marriage book|difficult marriage|husband|wife|hard times in marriage|marriage encouragement
Being Confident of This button, grace for the work-in-progress woman, knowing your identity in Christ and living from it

Categories

Archives

  • June 2020
  • March 2020
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • December 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
New devotional release from Jen Stults - Being Confident of This: 30 Days to Discovering Your Identity in Christ. This book is for every Christian woman who wants to walk in confident faith instead of struggling with doubt, fear, and insecurity! self-esteem | self-confidence | self-help | motivational | personal growth | spiritual growth | how to be more confident | Christian women | devotional | Bible study | identity in Christ | superwoman myth | being like Mary

Copyright © 2021 | Crave Theme by The Pixelista | Built on the Genesis Framework