Identity In Christ
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“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NIV)
God spoke you into your mother’s womb at just the right time for you to be here now. It wasn’t by accident, nor was it a pleasant surprise to God; he designed you on purpose to be on mission with him for such a time as this.
Your faith will grow stronger as you focus on your identity in Christ. What this means is that you abandon any image of yourself that is not from God. You stop believing what others have said about you; you stop believing how others have labeled you; you stop accepting how others have defined you.
Where I’m going is here – if you don’t know who you are, then you’re vulnerable to other people telling you who you are. But the concrete, solid, gospel truth is that you are who God says you are and no one else has a vote in the matter.
You are now identified with Christ and have the power of the Holy Spirit within you. You are God’s precious child and he created you in a way that pleases him.
This “identity issue” is an important part of living the abundant life. Jesus was able to face the incredible demands of his mission because he’d settled this identity issue. He knew exactly who he was; he knew that he mattered immensely to his Heavenly Father, and that gave him confidence to move purposefully in faith.
What does this mean?
• God wants you to be you – You can relax knowing that being yourself is exactly what God wants of you. A pencil brings glory to God by being a pencil. But, if you take a pencil and try to use it like a screwdriver, it won’t work and you’ll likely break the pencil. You will find the stress drained from your life when you stop trying to be somebody you’re not and instead start being who God purposefully designed you to be.
• Believe God calls you by name – God didn’t call you as part of a blanket invitation; he called you specifically by name. You are his masterpiece, a work of his own hands. Like many earthly fathers, God feels pleasure when he sees you just being you.
• Believe you are who God says you are – No one else has a vote on who you are. You are free to be you instead of imitating someone else. You are free to use your unique, God-given gifts and there is no need to compare your gifts to the gifts of others. No one else is in competition to be you!
Lord, Thank you for creating me. Help me to see myself as You see me today. Amen
Questions: Where are the places in your life where you’re still trying to be someone other than who God shaped you to be?
About the Author Jon Walker
Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Playing to your Strengths, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog
Many at a times we never try to look to ourself. We are always intrested in comparison in life. But this is very very true. We need to have our identity card in Christ.No matter others. We are for Jesus. But do not think when you are offering yourself to the identity of Christ. We all have to give a price. Jesus was given the name above all names when he was obedient till his last breathe. he was fully submissive. Jesus told us I have overcome the world so do not worry. yes the identity which we hvae has the power to resurrect us. Amen God Bless You all
Sisters, wow I just want to say I was blessed & thankful for each of your prayers. God knew I needed them, and I know He heard them. Thank you so much for taking the time out. I pray God also blesses each of one of you, and helps you with whatever you’re going through as well. May God continue to strengthen our frame in Him, guide, protect, be with us. In Christ Name, Amen.
Dear kanj, your loving, kind words touch me so! Thank you for blessing me as you do! It is such a great joy to hear your testimony of God’s transforming/redeeming work in your life, dear sister, and share in your celebration of His goodness! You have tasted the sweetness of His fellowship, and your jubilance is palpable! It is precious to me to share this joy with you, kanj, and I praise Him for His introducing us here at this blog! :) Your love for Him, and for your sisters here, richly bless us all!
Dear anonymous, joining Michelle and Sharon in praying for you . . .
Precious Savior, we praise You for Your work on the cross for us that paid the ransom in full, and satisfied the Father! Thank You for giving Your life, that we could have life eternal! This is, indeed, ‘Good news!’ Thank You, Holy Spirit, for taking up residence in our hearts and giving us new identities, new clothes of righteousness, imputed by Jesus! We are daughters of The King, dressed in His glorious wardrobe! Thank You for adorning us with Your stamp, Holy Spirit! Help us to live our lives as royalty, befitting our new identities! May Your Image be so reflected in us, such that when others are with us, they have seen Jesus! We lift up anonymous to You, Lord, asking for Your grace to be poured out upon her! Grant her the boldness and confidence to claim victory over Satan’s efforts to discourage her. Reassure her of her position in You, and Your steadfast love for her! Build her up, Lord, in her knowledge of You, that she would be girded for the spiritual battles that face Christ-followers. Clear her path, Lord, of any hindrances that might cause her to stumble, as she runs the race You have set before her! Strengthen her, we pray, with the sweet fellowship of sisters, that offer encouragement and sensitivity, along the way! Bless her, Lord, according to Your riches in glory! In the most holy Name of Jesus, Amen!
Jon, thank you for the devotional. what an impact this devotional has brought to me. anonymous, i felt the impact of your response for this devotional in that yes, powerful and awesome it is.
my foundation is still in need of dire repair but in these last months I am doing a lot of ‘shedding’ of the old me. it’s an awesome feeling to experience. I need God to be in my life and I in His. And where I am still trying to be someone other than who God shaped me to be, my re-newed self is ready, willing to be lead down the right path. i find delving into scripture is like a soft down blanket. i feel safe, secure and in my comfort zone(so to speak)
thank you again Jon, God bless
and marilyn, once again, you are a beacon(personally speaking) of maturity and with much respect your fellowship(to me) has been one of those blessings that don’t always often happen. Bless you.
aon i am praying for you right now
God receives us as we are when we accept His Son as Lord and Savior, but, by His grace, He doesn’t leave us there. In communion and cooperation with His Holy Spirit, God slowly, purposefully, transforms us into Christ-likeness, helping us shed our ‘old selves,’ as we put on our ‘new identities.’ While we are each uniquely designed to fit into God’s Kingdom plans, using custom-made gifts and strengths, we all still have areas of our lives that He wants to re-construct, for our own benefit, and to promote spiritual growth. If we are ‘alive in Christ,’ then we will be growing in Him. Spiritual ‘busy-work’ does not necessarily equate with spiritual growth. Spiritual growth is measured by the fruits of the Spirit — “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23) When we seek to glorify Christ with our willful and loving obedience to His sanctifying work in us, He blesses us with these developing fruits. These characteristics are the true measure of our spiritual health. No amount of spiritual ‘busy-ness’ will ever satisfy like the reward of spiritual well-being!
I am praying for you right now. “Father, I lift this person up to You, and ask that You give her the courage to be herself among the challenges in her life. As she lives her life day by day, I ask that You bring this devotional to her rememberance, and that she will focus on Who knew her before the foundations of the earth. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen”
wow, this was a powerful devotional, thanks for sharing. if you can, please lift me up, that I would walk in this, and not be afraid of certain things. Thank you & God bless.