Knowing Your Identity in Christ: I am Accepted (Ephesians 1:6)

Can the truth that you are fully accepted in Christ transform your parenting and family life?

On this episode of 7 Minute Devotions for Busy Parents, host Christen Clark dives deep into the foundational power of grace in Christian life and parenting. Discover how understanding acceptance shapes spiritual growth, and how grace-filled parenting at home impacts raising Christian kids who obey out of love. Christen shares personal stories and biblical insights from Ephesians that will help your family thrive.

• [00:01:18] What grace REALLY means
• [00:03:26] How acceptance in Christ radically shifts discipleship and spiritual growth for kids

Resources:

• Instagram: @7minutedevotions, @christenclark
• Family Podcast: @collidekidspodcast

Transcript

Christen Clark [00:00:01]:

Hello and welcome to 7 Minute Devotions for Busy Parents. My name is Christen Clark and I'm your host. I am a very busy parent and that's why I created this show. I also am the host of another show called the Collide Kids Podcast. It's a show for families to enjoy together, so definitely make sure you're checking that out, especially if you enjoy today's show. We are continuing our journey through Ephesians, building a strong foundation of identity in Christ. So far we've learned that we are chosen and adopted. We are loved on purpose and brought fully into the family of God.

Christen Clark [00:00:34]:

Isn't that awesome? Today we're going to come under another powerful truth, one that brings deep rest to our souls. Today's identity statement is this: I am accepted. Ephesians 1:6 says, to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he has made us accepted in the beloved. The NIV says that we have been given grace fully, but I just love so much how the New King James Version says we are accepted in the beloved. That is so good. It's so personal and comforting. So I'm— we're going to go with the New King James Version today. Let's talk about this a little bit.

Christen Clark [00:01:18]:

We are accepted because we are in Christ. That acceptance comes through grace. Grace is one of the most important concepts in the Christian faith, and yet sometimes it can be misunderstood. So let's define it. Grace is unmerited favor, unearned. We didn't deserve it. It's a blessing, love, acceptance, kindness given to someone who has not earned or deserved it. In my mind, sometimes grace and mercy get confused because the concept seems to be the same, right? But mercy is being spared from a punishment that you do deserve.

Christen Clark [00:01:53]:

Grace is receiving good gifts you don't deserve. So They work together, but they're not the same. Later this week, we're going to talk more about mercy and forgiveness, but today we're focusing on grace, because grace is what tells us we are already accepted. One of the reasons this truth is so close to my heart is because my daughter's name, her name is Charis, which is actually the Greek word for grace. And so as I say her name, I'm reminded of what God has given us freely, not because we earned it, but because he is good. This understanding of grace is what separates Christianity from so many other religions and belief systems. Across the world, people are striving. They are trying to be good enough.

Christen Clark [00:02:35]:

They're trying to be pure and holy and disciplined enough to earn God's acceptance or to earn access to the heavenly realms. There's even some belief systems that look similar to Christianity, but they place a weight on human effort. You have to do more, you have to try harder, you have to be better. But the gospel tells a different story. So if your gospel and your doctrine is telling you you've got to do more, try more, and be better, it's probably not the true gospel. We do not obey God to get to him. We obey God because we already belong to him. Our good works, our kindness, our pursuit of Christlikeness, these are not the price of admission.

Christen Clark [00:03:18]:

Our good works, those things that we're doing, it's the response of gratitude because we've been given grace, because we're accepted. Now let's talk about how this applies to our parenting. I tell my kids this all the time. You represent our family, you represent our church, and you represent Jesus. It's all about your identity. But imagine if I said this: in order for you to be a part of this family, you have to act a certain way, or you have to look a certain way, or you have to do something in order to earn acceptance to the family. Well, that wouldn't be love. That, that's performance.

Christen Clark [00:03:52]:

And I know for some of you listening, that might actually hit close to home. Maybe that was your family, or maybe that was your church. You had to clean yourself up, behave perfectly, or prove your worth in order to belong. But Ephesians tells us something different, doesn't it? It tells us something better. We are already accepted in Christ. Our children need to know this. And they need to know that obedience flows from belonging, not toward it. Now listen, discipline still matters, holiness still matters, but acceptance comes first.

Christen Clark [00:04:26]:

Because when our kids know that they are accepted, they don't obey out of fear. They obey out of love. Before we pray today, we're going to practice our identity rhythm. This is something we're going to do each episode for the season. And remember, repetition is what helps us remember things. It helps us to hold on and shape what we believe. So we're going to keep repeating these things each week. We'll say these 3 short statements: who we are in Christ, why it's true, and how we can live from it.

Christen Clark [00:05:03]:

So this is something I want you to remember, and you can keep repeating it with your kids or whenever you need that reminder. So let's practice it together. Our identity statement for today is, I am accepted. I am accepted because of God's grace, not because of what I have done. How can we live from it? Because I am accepted, I obey God from gratitude, not fear. Let's say this identity statement one more time together. Ready? I am accepted. Let's pray.

Christen Clark [00:05:34]:

God, thank you so much for your grace. Thank you for accepting us and reminding us that we're accepted, that we don't have to earn or strive or work overly hard to earn your grace. You give it to us freely, and we don't deserve it, and we are so grateful. God, I pray right now that for anyone who is struggling with this idea of grace, maybe they've grown up in a, in a family or in a church or in a situation that push them towards fear and performance. God, would you just heal them right now? Would you just speak to their heart and remind them that you love them so much? Help us to be parents that operate from this place of grace. Help us to show grace, help us to receive grace, and help us to remember every day that we are accepted because of Jesus Christ. In his name, amen. Well, thank you so much for listening today.

Christen Clark [00:06:27]:

I hope you are enjoying this study as much as I am. I think It's so important that we get this, this idea of identity and we're rooted in that, not in our striving or in our perfectionism. And so I hope this is speaking to your heart and encouraging you and encouraging your walk with Christ and your parenting journey as well. Next time we'll continue through another verse in Ephesians. I think you're really going to enjoy it. So until next time, remember who you are and who you belong to.