1 Peter 1:2
Your original identity is defined by what God, the Father of humanity has always cherished about you; how your pre-Adamic innocence would be preserved in the prophetic word, and redeemed through the obedience of Jesus Christ, and the effect of the sprinkling of his blood. Realizing his grace and peace exceeds any definition of contradiction or reward. (Mirror Bible)

Who are you?

In the movie “300”, the fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers reared the Spartan boys to be warriors from birth. They ate, drank and slept battle. They taught them battle like you would teach your child to walk, think, and live. King Leonidas was preparing to go to war. His friend, Daxos, came to support him in the battle. This is the script from the scene is below.

As you stand on the spiritual battlefield, wearing full armor and ready for war; who are you and how did you get to this place?

• God formed you and breathed life into you.

Genesis 2:7 Then the Lord God formed [that is, created the body of] man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being [an individual complete in body and spirit]. (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC)

• God made the blueprint for your life.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC)

• God chose you before the foundation of the world.

Ephesians 1:4 Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC)

• God knew you would need redemption.

Romans 7:21-24  Through my experience of this principle, I discover that even when I want to do good, evil is ready to sabotage me. 22 Truly, deep within my true identity, I love to do what pleases God. 23 But I discern another power operating in my humanity, waging a war against the moral principles of my conscience and bringing me into captivity as a prisoner to the “law” of sin—this unwelcome intruder in my humanity. 24 What an agonizing situation I am in! So who has the power to rescue this miserable man from the unwelcome intruder of sin and death? (The Passion Translation TPT)

• God made the provision for your salvation through Jesus, His son.

Romans 8:3 For what the Law could not do [that is, overcome sin and remove its penalty, its power] being weakened by the flesh [man’s nature without the Holy Spirit], God did: He sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful man as an offering for sin. And He condemned sin in the flesh [subdued it and overcame it in the person of His own Son]. (Amplified Bible AMP)

• God established a Passover forever more. Jesus’ death covered you in His blood just as they placed blood on the doorposts in Egypt.

Romans 3:25 Whom God displayed publicly [before the eyes of the world] as a [life-giving] sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation (propitiation) by His blood [to be received] through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness [which demands punishment for sin], because in His forbearance [His deliberate restraint] He passed over the sins previously committed [before Jesus’ crucifixion] without punishment. (Amplified Bible AMP, edited)

You are not a teacher, doctor, lawyer, homemaker, preacher, minister, prophet, etc. who also happens to be a Christian. You are a child of God who uses your profession as teacher, doctor, lawyer, homemaker, preacher, minister, prophet, etc. to glorify God! HOO-RAH!!!

1 Timothy 6:12 So fight with faith for the winner’s prize! Lay your hands upon eternal life, to which you were called and about which you made the good confession before the multitude of witnesses! (The Passion Translation TPT)

You are a soldier in the army of the Lord.

Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And this is their vindication from Me,” (declares) says the Lord. (Amplified Bible AMP, edited)

Stand and fight like it!

Please agree with me as I pray:

Father, thank You for showing me who I am. I am Your child. I am heir to Your throne. That means something. No matter what career path I take or profession I have; I am not a someone who has a particular job and also believes in You. I am a child of God who just happens to have whatever job I am currently working on. This is such a slight difference in semantics, such an enormous difference in the spiritual scheme of things. I repent for getting the difference confused. I have it straight now. I am sorry when I neglected to mention Your name when celebrating a success. I am Your child. You chose me, formed me, trained me and made me the person I am. I have no success without You and anyone who knows me will know that as well. I thank You for the good thoughts You have for me. Thank You for the amazing and expected end You planned for me. Because I received Your revelation, I changed how I see myself, which changed how I carry myself and, therefore, changed how I fight. Now I fight with confidence because You have already won the victory…

————

Ask the Lord what He wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal His response as described here.

THE SCRIPT

Daxos says, “ I see I was wrong to expect Sparta’s commitment to at least match our own”.
King Leonidas replied, “Doesn’t it?” He points to an Arcadian soldier behind Daxos and says, “You there. What is your profession?” The Arcadian soldier was a potter, and he replied, “ I am a potter…sir.”
King Leonidas points to another soldier and says, “And you, Arcadian, what is your profession?” That Arcadian soldier was a sculptor, and he replied, “ I am a sculptor, sir.”
King Leonidas: Says, “Sculptor”. Then he turns to a third soldier and says, “You?” The third Arcadian soldier was a blacksmith, and he replied, “ blacksmith.”
King Leonidas turns around and shouts, “SPARTANS! What is YOUR profession?” The Spartans shouted back, “HA-OOH! HA-OOH! HA-OOH!”
King Leonidas turn back to Daxos and says, “You see, old friend? I brought more soldiers than you did!”