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Credentials

What are your credentials? Do you have any? Of course you do! I wanted to make sure that I knew without a doubt what credentials were, so I looked it up on dictionary.com and this is what it said:

Credentials:  evidence of authority, status, rights, entitlement to privileges, or the like,usually in written form: Only those with the proper credentials are   admitted.

Do you realize that all of the above are exactly what our credentials are according to God’s Word! Plus, they are all in written form! When I read that, I got so excited because not only have we been given authority, but we also have status, we have rights, we also have the entitlement to many privileges all as God’s children. If you know Jesus, then you my friends are richer than the wealthiest person in the world!

And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. ~Romans 8:17, NLT

In James chapter 2 it says that God has “chosen” the poor in this world to be rich in faith. And they are the ones “who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him.” I don’t know about you, but in my book that gives us authority, status, rights, and entitlement to privileges, and it is ALL in written form!

Sometimes I forget my credentials, though. I think we all do. Because we get down and we get distracted by the world’s standards. And I’ll tell you something, if we let the world dictate to us how we should live, breathe, and act, then we have just let ourselves be intimidated, which is exactly what the enemy of our souls wants us to do. We can’t afford to do that!

By being an “Heir to the Kingdom” do you realize that you are royalty? Just like the new royal baby, what’s his title again? His Royal Highness Prince George? That new baby is royalty, born into it. You and I were adopted into royalty. We were adopted into such a high status of royalty that we became Princes and Princesses when Jesus overcame the world by rising from the dead on the third day! If you can’t get excited about that, then there’s something wrong with you.

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, BECAUSE I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD. ~John 16:33, NLT (emphasis added)

We have within us a great responsibility as heirs. Not only do we have rights, status, and entitlement to privileges, but we also have authority to do great things. And in that authority, we are called to tell others about Jesus.

You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them. You have the authority to correct them when necessary, so don’t let anyone disregard what you say. ~Titus 2:15, NLT

The next time someone asks you for your credentials, tell them, “I am a Princess! An Heir to the Kingdom of God!” Don’t forget them, because you were bought with an extreme price. You are more valuable than even the birds. So don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.