i·den·ti·ty,noun: the fact of being who or what a person or thing is
We live in a hustle bustle world of putting on identity. Marketing, media, internet, activities, jobs, peers, social groups, sports...
The list goes on and on of inundating ways to form who we are and what we're all about. Looking to God's Word for every answer,
I ask myself as I ponder...Who does God call us to be? What does the Bible say about our identity?
The list goes on and on of inundating ways to form who we are and what we're all about. Looking to God's Word for every answer,
I ask myself as I ponder...Who does God call us to be? What does the Bible say about our identity?
"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. "
Ephesians 5:1-2, 8-10, 15-17
How will I know what the will of the Lord is? I turn to the Word.
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Psalm 119:105
It's easy to assume that my identity is in obvious expressions like having a large family, mothering, adoption, homeschooling, or natural living. These things are true of my identity to a certain extent in that they comprise a large part of how I spend my days. However,
when I stop to define myself and consider the question, Who am I? The blaring answer is much simpler.
when I stop to define myself and consider the question, Who am I? The blaring answer is much simpler.
I am a child of God and my identity is in Christ Jesus.
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.
And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Galatians 2:20
This is what defines me.
Of course there are tangible ways that this identity plays out in my life, most noticeably my desire to pour out into the lives of others that which has been poured in by the Holy Spirit and this takes shape in many forms. But, ultimately my identity is in Christ and resting in the fact that I am His beloved child. It's His strength that fuels, His ability that equips, His grace to which all credit is due. With these truths in mind we see that whatever we end up pursuing, however we spend ourselves, if we are living as children of God and imitators of Him, it's He who enables us and therefore deserves honor. In light of these things, though life is full, in actuality it's very...simple.
Of course there are tangible ways that this identity plays out in my life, most noticeably my desire to pour out into the lives of others that which has been poured in by the Holy Spirit and this takes shape in many forms. But, ultimately my identity is in Christ and resting in the fact that I am His beloved child. It's His strength that fuels, His ability that equips, His grace to which all credit is due. With these truths in mind we see that whatever we end up pursuing, however we spend ourselves, if we are living as children of God and imitators of Him, it's He who enables us and therefore deserves honor. In light of these things, though life is full, in actuality it's very...simple.
"No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."
1 John 4:12
I think it's important every now and then to take inventory of our lives from an external perspective in attempt to reflect upon whether or not our lives line up with Scripture. How do we spend our time? What are we passionate about? What do we talk about? Think about? Do? And, though we can consider how others perceive us, ultimately it's most important to evaluate how God sees us...straight into our hearts. It's easy enough to portray a false reality to the world by polishing the outside of our cup, but God knows us better than
we know ourselves. He looks on the inside where no one else is looking. And clean on the inside is what matters to Him.
we know ourselves. He looks on the inside where no one else is looking. And clean on the inside is what matters to Him.
"For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."
1 Samuel 16:17
So I ask myself some questions about how I spend my time and effort. Will the things I'm engaged in outlast my time here on earth?
Are my endeavors and daily happenings glorifying to God? Are the things I invest in of eternal value? Does our outside match our in?
Are my endeavors and daily happenings glorifying to God? Are the things I invest in of eternal value? Does our outside match our in?
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory...Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."
Colossians 3:1-4,10
In our culture, it can be tempting to define ourselves by many things, most which will not outlast our time on earth, most of which do not carry value of eternal worth, most of which aren't even glorifying to God. But, if God's Word tells us that even the minor things like eating and drinking are to be done to the glory of God, then why wouldn't we consider everything before His presence? Why wouldn't we weigh even the small choices we make before a holy God who cares about ALL that we do and are?
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
1 Corinthians 10:31
1 Corinthians 10:31
So, lately, as our family has worked through conversations that stem from personalized thoughts about who we are as individuals and who we are as a family unit, the pressing questions are, In who and what do we find our identity? What defines us?
And if any of those things are not of eternal significance, then how might we change moving forward?
How might we better exemplify the truth of who we are in Christ Jesus?
And if any of those things are not of eternal significance, then how might we change moving forward?
How might we better exemplify the truth of who we are in Christ Jesus?
"But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him."
1 Corinthians 6:17
Sometimes it feels so overly simplistic to find our identity in One singular source, that is, the Lord, that it hardly feels enough, let alone concrete. But the reality is that Christ is enough, just in who He is. And though He is Spirit in nature and we don't touch Him physically, we see innumerable concrete expressions of His identity in every detail of the world in which we live, including how He equips us to live.
"If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me."
Philippians 1:22
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
Galatians 5:22-23
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself,
unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."
John 15:4
Indeed, He is enough and more than enough to meet our every need, answer any question through His Word, lead us through any season of doubt, fill us to full and overflowing so the outpouring is as boundlessly creative and diverse as He is. Yes, Christ is definitely enough to define me, define us, we decide...and so we conclude, we are children of God first and foremost and He is our identity.
"If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me."
Philippians 1:22
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
Galatians 5:22-23
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself,
unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."
John 15:4
Indeed, He is enough and more than enough to meet our every need, answer any question through His Word, lead us through any season of doubt, fill us to full and overflowing so the outpouring is as boundlessly creative and diverse as He is. Yes, Christ is definitely enough to define me, define us, we decide...and so we conclude, we are children of God first and foremost and He is our identity.
"To live is Christ."
Philippians 1:21
