Psalm 139 prays, "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." There are many times in life when we ask ourselves, "Who am I?" We ask this when we are choosing a career, when we are dating our future spouse, and when we are getting ready to either add to our family, or mourn the loss of a loved one. These are serious times in which we question our identity. However, there are other times when our mind wanders in which we question who we are. We are just sitting there daydreaming at work, or trying to quiet our mind in order to go to sleep, and our mind plays games with us concerning our identity. However, our mind is never alone when it comes to this question. The devil, the world, and the Old Adam are all preaching these false gospels into our hearts and corrupting our minds constantly. They say that we are useless, good for nothings, failures, delinquents, ragamuffins who don't deserve to be loved and to love in return. In short, the devil, the world, and the Old Adam want nothing more than for us to be depressed, anxious, and worried sinners who don't take comfort in our identity which is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It is in these times that we must keep the words of the Psalm before our eyes and in our hearts. We must see the verse, "Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows IT very well." How does it goes from "works" to the singular "it?" Well, most of us see the works of God as the things in creation like birds, bees, flowers, and trees, and these are good things in God's creation. However, these things in creation show us only that God is an all powerful God who creates everything, including ourselves. We are defined as a creature of God, one that is not made by our hands, but by His hands. However, this does not send the devil, the world, and the Old Adam packin. The works of God that send the devil, the world, and the Old Adam away is the work that Jesus the Christ did for us in His incarnation, obedient life, vicarious death, glorious resurrection, and ascension. The work of Jesus is what defines us, what gives us our identity. Yes, we can look at creation, at life as it is formed in the womb, and confess that we are wonderfully made by God. However, we only know that God loves us in the work of Jesus. For the greatest words that help us read Psalm 139 are the very words that the Father spoke to His Son at His baptism, "This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased." The Father is pleased in His Son alone. The Father is pleased with us because He created us to be redeemed by His Son and made holy by the Holy Spirit. Our identity then is not determined by the devil, the world, or the Old Adam, but by the Father, and the Father identifies us in His Son, Jesus the Christ.

My friends, when your mind wanders today, or when you have those moments of doubt, remember these words of the 139th Psalm, and the Word of God that defines you saying, "³ Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his" (Romans 6:3-5). My friends, you are baptized into Christ, you are children of paradise. You are the work of Jesus hands, the work of His atonement for you, the work of His death and resurrection. You are a beloved child of the Father, because Jesus has claimed you as His own brothers and sisters. May this truth comfort you this day and all your days. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, purposefully redeemed, and predestined for life eternal with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

Peace be with you. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam be drowned anew so that you hear only the voice of your Savior Jesus who says, "I forgive you. I love you. I claim you as My own forever," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog,

Pastor Hull