True identity

True Identity

Thought- We will never know who we are until we know whose we are.

Scripture- “In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,  to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.” Ephesians 1:5-10

 

Insight: Have you ever pondered the question who are you? In other words, if someone asked you ‘who are you?’ how would you answer? I think most of us would answer based on our occupation, or title or status. We may say something like ‘I am a Doctor, or I am a lawyer. We may say I am a father or a husband. But as Christians, we should be prepared to answer in a different manner. We should let the questioner know that we are children of God and we find our identity in Jesus Christ. Why would we answer that way and what would having our identity in Christ mean to them and what does it actually mean to us? I believe, as Christians, we should make certain our identity is in Christ because that is the only thing we can never lose. If we find our identity in a job, a position, a relationship or anything else, that is subject to change. But when we find our identity in Jesus Christ, that is forever. Jesus will never leave us or forsake us, as Hebrews 13:5 promises.

 

So, what does finding our identity in Christ mean to us in practical terms? Well, it means we go the promises of Scripture to find out who God says we are as His sons and daughters. There we find that amongst other things we are His children, we are loved, we are forgiven, we are redeemed, we are chosen, we are His inheritance. This is so important because it helps us overcome many hurdles that may stand in our way or so many situations from our past that are hindering are ability to move forward. When we cling to who God says we are, we can confidently face the challenges that life inevitably throws our way.

 

 But, what does it mean to say this in a World that is increasingly secular and will have no idea what you are talking about? I think there are a few ways we can practically live out the fact that our identity is found in Christ: 1. We deal with situations and challenges differently than everyone else. This is our witness to a watching world, and when they see that even during our own struggles, we have time to help and be concerned for others, this is very intriguing. 2. We don’t worry about status the way others do. When our identity is in Christ, we are secure in the knowledge that this is more than enough to satisfy us. The Singer Mandissa summed it up best when she sang “I don’t need my name in lights, I’m famous in my Fathers eyes.” 3. We have contentment amidst the chaos. Because we know whose we are, we can be sure of who we are, and this leads to a contentment that is not circumstantial, but rather is unshakeable. Let’s face it, there is lots of crazy stuff going on all around us in this world, but our peace and contentment can be a beacon of light to those who are struggling with fear in the midst of the chaos that is swirling all around. 4. We are different in that we see things with an eternal perspective and that all things belong to God. Therefore, we are comfortable serving, rather than being served. This alone can make a huge impact on those unaware or uniformed about the grace of God’s people. 5. We are humble people in a prideful world. When we get attention or awards, we don’t act like fools but we give credit to those who helped us get there always putting others before ourselves, To quote the great Vince Lombardy “Those on the Top of the Mountain didn’t just fall there.”  We make mistakes, we own them. We fall, we get back up. We love when others hate. We are peacemakers. We criticize through creativity. We forgive, because he forgave us first. These practical applications of our identity in Christ will be illustrative to a watching world that we are different. Others will be attracted to our light, and want to know more, which then allows us to point them to Christ, the Author and perfecter of our faith.

 

Prayer: Lord, help us to be your ambassadors of light to a dark world. Help us to be different because others can see the love of Christ in us. Amen!