Affirmed
Twenty Three
June 1, 2025
Then he turned towards the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman?”
— Luke 7:44
You are who Jesus says you are.
The woman in Luke 7:44 was riddled with labels, but Jesus showered her with affirmation. He called her out … in a good way. She humbled herself, pouring herself out to Jesus, and Jesus exalted her. I find it interesting that Jesus was looking at this woman as he addressed Simon. “Do you see her? No, do you really see her? I do. I call her ‘woman’, not ‘sinner’.” Even Simon was stripped of his label of “Pharisee” by Jesus in this conversation. We are not our job, and we are not our sin. We are who Jesus says we are, and our identity is assigned by him.
Identity and affirmation are closely tied, resonating off of each other until they rise in a dance of exuberant joy that exclaims, “I am his and he is mine, and with me he is well pleased.” Our identity is in Christ and our affirmation comes from the Father who has placed us in Christ.
I long for approval; I desire it. But not from man – from God. God’s approval is an energy drink without the bad side effects. That’s why the “charismata”, gifts of the Spirit, are important in the church. They are given to build up, to affirm. Prophecy, words of knowledge, wisdom, all the gifts of the Spirit, are given for the good of one another. The Lord uses these to call us out, to build us up, to affirm us as his children, as members of him.
Where do we look to find affirmation? Who does our heart turn to when we need acknowledgement? Leaning on the approval of man is a weak crutch that gives out in our lowest of times. But Jesus reassigns and reaffirms. He himself restores us and makes us strong and confirms who we are. You are not your successes; you are not your failures. You are who he says you are. So why look elsewhere for approval?
Theologian Sam Storms writes, “How shall we fully grasp what it means to stand before a God of infinite holiness and purity and hear him declare, ‘Righteous!’” The world, the flesh, and the devil say, “Condemned!”, but God says, “Righteous!” over those found in his Son. The One who received the words, “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased,” paid the price to apply those words to you. “But I fail,” you say. “I do not,” Jesus replies. “I’ve let you down, Lord,” we confess, “You are my child, and I lift you up,” he responds. We are irreversibly tied to Jesus, confirmed by him, approved in him, affirmed.
Jesus doesn’t define, label, or view you by your environment or upbringing, so neither should you. He doesn’t consult your performance rating or poll what others think of you to form his view of you. Unlike us, he is immune to such folly. He simply asks, “Who do you say that I am?” Affirmation robes those of us who believe he is God’s gift to sinners, who trust in his faithfulness above our own. He sees you and you are who he says you are.
Monday
June 2, 2025
… knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
— Colossians 3:24 (ESV)
Who do we live for? What do we live for? Do our weeks exist for the weekend, our days for the evenings? Are we living out the adage of the 1980’s rock song, “Everybody’s working for the weekend?” ¹ There is no such thing as a thankless job if you are serving Christ, from the heart, in your work. Compared to what you will be administering in eternity, your daily job here on earth is a small thing — and he who is faithful in small things will be faithful in great things. Your affirmation is from the Lord: “Welcome home … I will make you ruler over many things.”
How do you handle a bad day at school, work, or home? How do you put your “job” into perspective?
Have you ever thought of your daily responsibilities, whether at school, work, or home, as service to the Lord? Why do you think the Lord looks on what you do as a service to him which will be rewarded?
Tuesday
June 3, 2025
For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.
— John 12:43 (NLT)
Fear of what others think of or say about us is a dark master lurking in the shadows of our heart’s intentions. Drink down the approval of man and you are drinking an insidious elixir sold by a snake oil salesman. Where do you seek the acknowledgement you hunger for? We’re wired to receive approval and affirmation, but not to love or idolize it. The praise of man is time-bound and fleeting, but the “well-done” of God is filled with eternal joy. The next time you’re tempted to imbibe the sweet drink of human praise, know that as Christians under the construction of the Holy Spirit, “... the Father sees us as objects of praise.” ² Our praise comes from him.
Do you struggle with wanting approval from people? What does your desire for approval motivate you to do?
Is it ok to receive compliments, even praise, from others? In what context?
Wednesday
June 4, 2025
and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
— Matthew 3:17 (ESV)
Affirmation and identity resonate off of one another; they amplify one another in their effect. We know affirmation because God is our Father, and being our Father, we are his children, and in this, our identity, we stand affirmed. How confident is a child of the king knowing that he will one day be crowned because he is an heir? Don’t call him a pauper or ask him to eat the meager crumbs of this world. He knows who he is because he knows whose he is. As the King’s you are royalty. Because you are in Christ you need affirmation from nowhere else, save his throne.
How aware do you think you are of your royal state? Do you find yourself doubting your position in Christ because of your performance?
When Jesus heard the words in today’s Scripture, what works had he done to that point? Is your standing as a child a birthright or an earned right?
Thursday
June 5, 2025
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
— Romans 8:33-34 (ESV)
Does God contradict himself? Can he, the Sovereign of the universe, turn against himself? I hope you answered “No”! If God has justified you, then he will never condemn you, for in doing so, he would cease to be God. The root of our affirmation, its ultimate source, must be found in the one who will one day say to us, “well done”. “It is God who justifies …”, “It is Christ who intercedes …” is the answer to “Who is he that …?” Who is he that rejects your business proposal? Who is he that laughs at the song you just sung? Who is he that constantly criticizes? Who is he that has rejected and hurt you? It is God who, in Christ, affirms you.
In what ways is God’s affirmation of you different than the affirmation received from people? How does Jesus continue to show his love and affirmation for us, even after his resurrection?
What is another scripture that proclaims God’s solidarity with us in Christ? Who is someone in your life that you look up to who has affirmed you? In what way have they affirmed you?
Friday
June 6, 2025
Remember me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people.
— Nehemiah 5:19 (NIV)
It’s Friday. How was your week? Have you worked hard at what you set your heart to? Well God is here to meet you at the end of this week and encourage you. Your labor in him is not in vain. He sees it. He sees the integrity, the love for people you’ve shown, and your passionate service for the King. He also sees your shortcomings and failures. You can find encouragement in the lyrics from the Keith Green song, “When I Hear the Praises Start” ³ —
Nothing that you've done remains
Only what you do for Me.
Be encouraged, good soldier.
Do you think it was out of line for Nehemiah to ask God to recognize his hard work? Weekend rest is good, but where is your strength ultimately found?
Does knowing that God is pleased with your sacrifices for him motivate you to good works? Is there anything wrong with being motivated by God’s approval? Why or why not?