Isaiah prophesied what the Messiah would be called based on His various roles. Later an angel appeared to declare the name and identity of Jesus before His birth. The Bible is full of names for us too…descriptions of who we are when we put our faith and trust in Jesus!
 
Before we continue with Isaiah’s famous prophecy about Jesus, let’s look at OUR identity and some of the ways God sees ALL of us who are His…
 
You are created in God’s image and likeness – Genesis 1:27
You are fearfully & wonderfully made – Psalm 139:14
You are more than a conqueror – Romans 8:37
You are no longer a slave to sin – Romans 6:6
You are a child of God – John 1:12
You are not condemned – Romans 8:1
You can never be separated from God’s love – Romans 8:38-39
You are chosen to bear fruit that lasts – John 15:16
You are one with Christ – 1 Corinthians 6:17
You are chosen, holy, royal – 1 Peter 2:9
You are a new creation – 2 Corinthians 5:17
You are a friend of God – John 15:15
You are redeemed and forgiven – Ephesians 1:7
You have Christ living in you – Galatians 2:20
You are God’s handiwork – Ephesians 2:10
You are created for good works – Ephesians 2:10
You are a temple – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
You are light – Ephesians 5:8
Your citizenship is in Heaven – Philippians 3:20
You have been given power, love, and self-control – 2 Timothy 1:7
You are created with purpose – Jeremiah 29:11
 
Questions: What do you think of God thinking of you in these ways? Which is your favorite? Which is the hardest for you to grasp?

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
 
The one who created us has also prepared good works for us. Who better to create us than the one who knows what we need to be equipped to do; what we were created to do?
 
So often we spend much of our time comparing ourselves to other people. We want what they have or what they can do. And if you’ve ever fallen in this trap, you know it is only exhausting, depressing, and unfulfilling.
 
We don’t know everyone else’s story. We don’t know what everyone else has gone through or what God’s purpose and plans are for them. Believe me, no one has it easy. Everyone has trials and burdens and obstacles they have to overcome.
 
When we waste our precious time and energy comparing or trying to copy someone else’s looks, talents, personalities, achievements, social media life, etc., we miss out on who God created us to be.  Because other peoples’ callings don’t quite fit us right.
 
God has good works – good things -- that He has set out for us to do. These things require a unique skill set that only we have. When we ignore the development of these things by trying to be someone else, we miss out on really wonderful, God-ordained things prepared for us.
 
The good works have already been prepared by God...for us to do. Our job? To not miss them. To WALK IN THEM. Let’s do this!
 
Challenge: Pay close attention to your thoughts over the next few days. When you find yourself comparing or jealous, let this be a prompt for you to pray. Ask God to show you what unique gifts and traits He created in YOU that He wants you to further develop or put into practice. Ask for wisdom in walking in the good works He has already prepared for YOU.

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139:13-16
 
Not only did God create humans in His image and likeness, He uniquely created YOU. The way you look, your personality, your quirks, your talents…all of you. The God who created the universe fashioned you on purpose, for purpose.
 
Another truth about God is that He is omnipotent (ALL-POWERFUL). He has no limitations. There is nothing in existence that God doesn’t have power over. God is also omnipresent (ALL-PRESENT). He is everywhere all the time…past, present, and future. And God is omniscient (ALL-KNOWING). There isn't a single thing that can be known, past, present, or future, that God isn't aware of.
 
You have free will to make decisions – good or bad. You choose. God doesn’t force you to do anything. God also already knows what you will do. The choices you will make and the choices others will make that impact you. He sees it all. He is never surprised by anything.
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God knew you long before you were born. Nothing is hidden from Him. All of your days are known to Him. Knowing everything, He says you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Fearfully… as in with awe, the root of awesome.
 
YOU are created exactly how a perfect God created you for the life and plans set before you...and God doesn’t make mistakes.  
 
Questions: Does it freak you out a little or give you comfort that God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present? Do you believe you are fearfully and wonderfully made just the way you are? When you are tempted to feel down on yourself, whisper to yourself, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and God doesn’t make mistakes.”

When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground— then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. Genesis 2:5-7
 
Unlike the other pieces of creation that God spoke into existence, we were formed by the mighty hands of God; awakened by the holy breath of God.
 
God created Adam, the first human, from dust and breathed life into him. Life is formed from mere dust and the hands and breath of God. God makes beautiful things from ashes.
 
The Hebrew word for breath is ruach (roo-ah), which even sounds like an exhaled breath. It is also used for the word Spirit. The Spirit of God brings us life.
 
Imagine being Adam and feeling air being breathed into your body, starting in your nostrils, and working its way down to every part of your being. 
 
Adam comes to life for the first time and stands face to face with his Creator.  This is the first human with the breath of God flowing through him. Everything is perfect and complete and holy. This is our beginning!
 
Question: The human body is incredible when you think about it. No two fingerprints are alike. All of our parts and organs and air and blood work together to keep us alive. What is the most incredible thing to you about the human body that God created? 

Check out this video clip of a Louie Giglio sermon talking about laminin molecules in the human body...

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26a,27
 
When you look in the mirror, do you see the image and likeness of God? You should! This is how God created you.
 
When you look around at those you interact with each day, do you see the image and likeness of God? You should!  This is also how God created them.
 
Did you catch how the words of God begin this declaration? “Let us…” 
 
Who is the us?
 
Another truth about God is He is one God in three persons…God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
 
These three were there in One from the beginning. God is community. We were created for community to support and rely on one another. We weren’t created to do this life alone. It is hard and we need each other. Sometimes we will be the one encouraging and sometimes we will be the one being encouraged.
 
Man was the last thing that was created on the sixth day. When all other created things and beings were made, God declared it, “good.”  When man was created and added to the world, God declared it, “very good.” (Genesis 1:31)
 
You are created in the image of God…and it is very good.
 
Challenge: The next time you have a disagreement with someone or they rub you the wrong way, take a minute to remind yourself that they are created in the image and likeness of God. Do you think this could help change your mindset about them?