Identity has become an important word for me over the past six months. After returning back from being a missionary in the D.R. and finding myself very confused about where I stood in life and what I was doing, I began to discover the most amazing truth I will ever learn. The discovery and unfolding of this truth continues today, and is the most powerful and freeing truth I've ever known.
My identity, and yours too, who we truly are, is the sons and daughters of the living God. I have a feeling that for some that may be offensive, for others it may sound silly, and to others quite trivial or boring. However, if you know who God really is and what His Word really says, this truth is anything but trivial, boring, or simple; it is the most amazing reality in the world. And if we let it settle into our bones, becoming the truth that we stand on every day, I do believe that our worlds will change more than they ever have.
As I stated previously, I've thought a lot about identity over the past several months. Before, I don't think I gave the word a lot of thought; I certainly didn't analyze what it meant and how it completely affects the way people live. The truth is, it does. The identity someone decides to undertake in life completely controls the way that they live. I do realize that there are things about us that we cannot control. For example, I am a white, 27 year old female. I cannot control that; however, I can control whether those words simply describe my physical appearance, or become my identity. I have noticed that some people allow a description of themselves or what they do to define the core of who they are, and that seems very dangerous.
To me, identity is what you stand on, it's what defines you. In our North American culture, we typically use what we do, have, or like as as a term for identity. "I'm a real estate agent; I'm a stay at home mom; I'm a pastor; I'm a home owner; I'm a husband; I'm a singer; I'm a cook; I'm a dog lover." No matter what people believe, no matter what their background is, they typically refer to these types of labels to define their identity. As I said previously, this can be very dangerous because each one of the previous things can change. They are not something to stand on because they may not always be there. When the things that you base your entire identity on change, what happens? Maybe you've experienced that yourself; I know I have.
The greatest beauty about being God's sons and daughters isn't that this truth will never change, although it won't. The greatest beauty about this identity is that we get to walk through life knowing that our Father is the most loving, perfect, and powerful being in the universe. We get to wake up every day knowing that this perfect, powerful love He has for us will never change, and that it doesn't depend on us at all; it totally depends on Him. We get to believe that He has chosen us, that He wants us, that He would, and did, give up everything for us. I don't know about you, but being God's daughter sounds much more exciting to me than a 27 year old single female who likes to sing and is trying to learn how to cook. That sort of describes me in part, but is nothing compared to the truth and unwavering reality that I belong to God, and that He is a perfect Father.
This is a beautiful description of our reality as stated by the Apostle Paul in Galatians 4:4-7:
But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
Again, Paul talks about our sonship and what God has given us in Romans 8:16-17:
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs-- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
I don't know which is more exciting- that we are God's children or that we are His heirs! It doesn't really matter because both are true! I cannot think of anything more wonderful. God's will, what He desires, is that we are His children and that we reign with Christ in His kingdom forever. My prayer is that God reveals this to us more and more, and that it becomes even more of a daily reality.
So, let's rejoice in the fact that we are God's children! Let us not say it oh so casually because it is something we have heard a lot in our lives. Let this powerful truth rule every part of us; may it become realer than our job title, race, age, talent or hobby. Those things will never bring us to life; they will never satisfy. What is life-giving is the utter truth that we belong to the most perfect and powerful Father whose pure existence is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. That is who He is and we are His; that is who we are.
And now to close, listen to your Father's words to you:
"Although you have been forsaken and hated, with no one traveling through, I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations. You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. Instead of bronze I will bring you gold, and silver in place of iron. Instead of wood I will bring you bronze and iron in place of stones. I will make peace your governor and righteousness your ruler. No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise."
No comments:
Post a Comment