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“Knowing your identity in Christ makes you feel unbreakable because no matter what Satan tries to do you, you know how strong you are in Christ and that’s all that matters.” – Unknown.
Our culture is all about discovering individual identity. There is no end to different methods people use to identify their identity. It seems like everyone is searching for something to tell them who they are, and where they belong.
While our world encourages you to look within yourself for your identity, your natural tendency is to search for your identity in external things. One of the first places that you can be tempted to look to is your career. Spending your time and energy pursuing your career can cause you to feel like it is a defining characteristic of who you are. Other people use financial success and status or relationships, appearance, grades, and reputation to provide them with a sense of identity.
Any or all of these may feel like solid foundations, but none of them are permanent. Any of them could change without warning. God, however, is unchanging. He is reliable. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Understanding your identity in God starts with understanding who He is, what He says about Himself, and what He says about you. If you put your faith in Jesus, you have a new identity in Him. The more you get to know Jesus, the more you will be able to identify areas of your life that you are not living in this identity by the power of the Holy Spirit. If you believed that you were all that God says you are in Christ, how would that change the way you lived, the way you interact with others, or the way that you relate to the Lord? As you find your identity in Christ, you will grow to look more like Him and less like the world. You will grow in intimacy with Him and with other believers.
Having an understanding of your identity in Christ is essential to living your life in the way He intended. You will never have to work to fit in or be someone you’re not. Jesus has rescued you, redeemed you, and brought you into His family forever. God has the answer to our identity issues. It is all about who He is and what He can accomplish in our lives if we let Him. In all things, at all times, He is with us. Every problem, every feeling of inadequacy, every painful circumstance- He is there with abundant resources to offer us. Embrace the fact that you are His child, and remember how much He loves you. “For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (Zephaniah 3:17). Our accomplishments in life can be significant, but they don’t qualify us for God’s love. They don’t add any value on our behalf in God’s eyes. His love for us is truly unconditional, for once we have our identity in Christ, we become who we really are: Children of God.
When you see yourself as Christ sees you, others may begin to see you that way too. If you are steady and secure in your identity in Him, your actions, speech, and life will express God’s love. You may find more opportunities to share the gospel, and Christ will be all the more glorified.
Remember who your Father says you are because it’s in Him where your true identity can be found.
Discussion Questions:
- The only way we grow in our identity in Christ is by seeking the Lord because He is the one who restores and transforms us. Agree or disagree and why?
- Our fingerprints identify us as unique individuals with a specific identity. According to Ephesians 1:4, what truth should be fully realized in order to find identity in Christ?