Who are you? That’s a question we ask about our children, but perhaps more often about those with disabilities and special needs. Guest blogger Mark Arnold gives a hope-filled, biblical answer.

How do we view children or young people with additional needs? Do we think about them as problems to solve? How do we perceive how God can use them to evangelize? Are they just children who are autistic, dyslexic, blind, deaf, physically disabled, or non-verbal? 

They may be many of these thing, but are they just what people see them to be? Or are they so much more than they seem? God sees them as much more. He speaks through them to share the gospel with the world? Here are words from God about how he answers the question, “Who are you?”

You are made in the image of God. So God created human beings in his own likeness. He created them to be like himself. Genesis 1:27a

You are amazingly and wonderfully made. How you made me is amazing and wonderful. I praise you for that. What you have done is wonderful. I know that very well. Psalm 139:14

You are eternally loved by God. I have loved you with a love that lasts forever. I have kept on loving you with a kindness that never fails. Jeremiah 31:3

You are God’s children. Some people did accept him and did believe in his name. He gave them the right to become children of God.  John 1:12

 You are Jesus’ friend: I am the vine. You are the branches. If you remain joined to me, and I to you, you will bear a lot of fruit. John 15:5a

You are full of joy. And that is not all. We are full of joy in God because of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:11a

You are at peace with God. Those who belong to Christ Jesus are no longer under God’s judgment. Romans 8:1

You are on God’s side. What should we say then? Since God is on our side, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

You are inseparable from the love of Jesus. Who can separate us from Christ’s love?… No! In all these things we are more than winners! We owe it all to Christ, who has loved us. Romans 8:35…37

You are God’s temple. Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple? Don’t you know that God’s Spirit lives among you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16

You are one with Jesus in spirit. Whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one with him in spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:17

You are part of the body of Christ. There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body. It is the same with Christ. We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit. And so we are formed into one body. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13a

You are the sweet fragrance of Christ. God considers us to be the pleasing smell that Christ is spreading. 2 Corinthians 2:15

You can do anything through Christ’s strength. I can do all this by the power of Christ. He gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

You are completely forgiven through Jesus, Because of what the Son has done, we have been set free. Because of him, all our sins have been forgiven. Colossians 1:14

You are complete. Because you belong to Christ, you have been made complete. Colossians 2:10a

You are a child of light. All of you are children of the light. 1 Thessalonians 5:5

You are Jesus’ brothers and sisters: Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. Hebrews 2:11

You are holy and chosen: “Holy brothers and sisters, God chose you to be his people. Hebrews 3:1

You are children of God, and Jesus protects them: “We know that those who are children of God do not keep on sinning. The Son of God keeps them safe. The evil one can’t harm them. 1 John 5:18

Our children are more than what people may see. They are loved more than they, or we, can imagine. They are valued more than all the gold and jewels on Earth. Let’s remember these verses when we meet these wonderful people and ask the question, “Who are you?”

All Bible verses were taken from the Biblica NIrV Accessible Edition, with permission.

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