Who You Are

Have you ever gotten sucked into a name-calling war with someone else? 

I am hoping that if you are old enough to be reading this blog that you have outgrown this tendency. It’s usually reserved for children on the playground, or at the park, or at each others’ houses playing (or siblings who’ve spent way too much time together indoors), when they’ve grown tired of one another, or one does something the other doesn’t like. 

Child 1: Why did you take that truck?!? I am clearly still PLAYING WITH IT!!!
Child 2: You put it down. That means you’re done. 
Child 1: No it does not you stupidhead!!
Child 2: Yes it does you booger eater!
Child 1: NO. IT. DOES. NOT. You ______________________.
Child 2: I’m telling mom!!!

I got tired of this already and couldn’t bring myself to fill in the blank. I am sure you thought of something age appropriate though, right? How good are you at hurtling insults? 

I know when I was younger and my sister and I would fight, I would always use her insecurities against her. (Joni I have so much to make up to you from our childhood. I don’t know that I will ever catch up…) 

But then she would eventually do the same thing back to me. I would provoke her, and provoke her until finally she broke down and said something mean. I won’t list those things here because, frankly, it’s not your business. And we’ve both outgrown that, praise God. 

I think that’s why this phrase: ‘When the Devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future’ bother me so much. 

We’ve talked before about how I used to run my mouth without consequence, and I feel like responding in this way to anyone or anything just encourages me to go back to being that ugly person. 

Devil: Hey you, Smart Alek…you know you want to say something sarcastic. You’re so good at this. Speak your mind, girl! Don’t let them talk to you like that! Use that acid tongue I know is in there. You’ve done it so many times before…
Me: NO.
Devil: Remember when you put your neighbor in their place last summer? How about when you told off the coach of your team? Or when you made the women’s ministry leader cry with your criticism of the first event she hosted…that was AWESOME!!! Come on- you’re so GOOD at this!!
Me: Just stop it!! I’m not that person anymore! And you’re going to HELL, Devil! Where you’re gonna burn forever and ever, with no hope of escape! You AND your angels! What do you think of that?!?
Devil: Now that’s what I’m talking about! I knew you had it in you! Now say it to THEM. [points to other person in room who is getting on my nerves]

(Just so we’re clear, I did not do any of the things the Devil accused me of in the above fake conversation.)

I’m thinking this is not an effective way to ‘defend’ yourself. Maybe your past doesn’t include an acid tongue. Maybe instead you’ve been sexually promiscuous, or maybe you were a thief, or an abuser of others, or fearful, doubtful, let your love of money ruin you. I don’t know what the Devil whispers to you in moments when you’re tempted to sin, or when you’re struggling. But he does seem to know just what buttons to push, doesn’t he? 

Yes, it is the truth that the Devil is going to hell, but don’t you think reminding him of who you are now (if you’re in Christ) is so much more powerful? Reminding the Devil of his future may make you feel better in the moment, but you can only do that so many times before it loses steam. It doesn’t make me feel better about who I am at all. 

Just like when I was a kid and slammed someone else.

Because the Devil has a long list of things to pull from my past, (and my present if I’m being honest) to use against me from now to eternity. He is the accuser of the brethren. It’s like one of the things he does on a regular basis. He’s not going to run short on material. And I don’t think throwing the fact that he’s going to hell for eternity is going to make him back down and leave you alone. 

I would much rather talk about Jesus. Reciting my standing in Christ is so much more powerful than telling the devil about his future. Remembering how He has changed me, the new person I’ve become, the things He has given me that CANNOT be taken away by anyone or anything is such an encouragement and strength to my heart. 

If you are a child of God through faith in Jesus, ALL of the following is true about you.

You are or you have:
1. God’s Child- John1:12 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” 

2. Clean- John15:3 “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” 

3. Free- John8:36 “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” 

4. Alive in Christ- Col 3:3-4 “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” 

5. Being- Acts17:28 “For in him we live, and move, and have our being;” 

6. Healed- Isaiah 53:5 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace (shalom) was upon him: and with his stripes we are healed.” 

7. Fearfully and wonderfully made- Psalm139:14 “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:” 

8. Justified- Roman5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace [eirene] with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” 

9. Blessed, Chosen, Without Blame, Adopted, Accepted Ephesians1:3-8 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

Jesus has given us so many good gifts!! When we recite these things over and over to ourselves, when we turn them into a praise to the Lord while we’re being accused, then we can’t hear what the Devil is throwing at us, because the truth is so much louder.

Romans 8:38-39
(38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
(39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Whatever reminders of your past the Devil might throw in your face, he can never separate you from the love of God in Christ! So when he reminds you of your past, remind him of your standing in Christ, and remind yourself too. 

It’s such a powerful thing!!