THE STRUGGLE FOR IDENTITY IN OUR WORLD TODAY AND HOW ABIDING IN CHRIST SOLVES THE DILEMMA

WHO AM I ? When one first contemplates the question it can seem kind of silly. We all have a name, and we all have a family. We all have a Mother and a Father. We have a biological identity as a Man or a Woman…. hmmm, maybe not for some sadly.. We have other markers that we also identify with. Single, married, mom, dad. Often we find identity in our career path, or a chosen vocation. Businessman, businesswoman, Doctor, Teacher, Nurse. Electrician, plumber, programmer, salesperson, attorney, real estate broker. A multitude of things that define us. Don’t forget our ideological identities. Conservative, liberal, moderate, far left, far right. How about our group memberships, our medical challenges, our religious memberships. Our Nationality, our ethnicity, our skin color. ON AND ON THEY GO ! THE WORLD HAS AN UNENDING SMORGASBORD OF WAYS TO CATEGORIZE US, DEFINE US, AND TELL US EXACTLY WHO WE ARE ! As you look at all these things, does it occur to you that what they are really designed for is to SEPARATE US AND DIVIDE US ! When a person embraces their identity in this manner it tends to lead to comparatives and self directed Judgements. Rich vs. poor, formal education vs. self taught street smarts. Lucky vs. unlucky. There are also the many things that Culture and Place provide. The world is One Big Soup Kettle of thousands of ingredients poured in to make us who we are on the outside….but what about WHO WE ARE ON THE INSIDE ? I BELIEVE THAT GOD DESIGNS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US UNIQUELY AS INDIVIDUALS. We have a design, a path, and a purpose for our life IF WE CHOOSE TO PURSUE IT. A life that Abides In Christ will seek God’s ways and I believe help us develop values, morals, and priorities. Jesus laid those out very clearly in His teachings and parables. A life that Abides In Christ also is a life Filled With The HOLY SPIRIT. A Life full of Gifts, Guidance, and Foundational Strength. Not Perfect, but solidly striving toward Righteousness through the Power and Strength of Jesus and The Holy Spirit inside of us. Who Does God Say We Are ?

I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED IN 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

SO GOD CREATED MAN IN HIS OWN IMAGE, IN THE IMAGE OF GOD HE CREATED HIM, MALE AND FEMALE HE CREATED THEM. Genesis 1:27

NOW YOU ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST AND INDIVIDUALLY MEMBERS OF IT. 1 Corinthians 12:27

BUT HE WHO IS JOINED TO THE LORD BECOMES ONE SPIRIT WITH HIM. 1 Corinthians 6:17

What I love so much about my Identity In Christ is the absolute Surity of WHO AND WHOSE I AM ! God has brought me many blessings in my life, and I am very Thankful for them, but He has also CHANGED ME into EXACTLY who He wants me to be. Age brings a certain clarity and appreciation for the things in life that truly matter, but at the CORE OF IDENTITY OUR HEART GIVES US THE TRUE FOUNDATION OF WHO WE ARE. Time seems to take those things and give them an even more defined focus and presentation. In Christ we are able to SEE AND WEIGH THOSE THINGS THAT TRULY MATTER. Jesus was able to take Saul of Tarsus and turn him from persecution of early followers of Jesus into a called Apostle of Christ who deemed himself a “Servant of Jesus Christ, separated unto the Gospel of God” ( Romans 1:1.) A completely CHANGED IDENTITY once he gave his life to Jesus ! His worldly purpose and passion became “worthless” in comparison to serving his Savior and King. For Paul, it was an extreme and defining moment of being confronted and challenged….his world turned upside down. The world had presented him with an identity and path that seemed right. A bright scholar of Rabbi Gamaleil, destined for Religious Greatness and Acclaim….to a path of humility and reliance on others. Robes and finery to rags and prison. Abject hatred to a joyous heart of servitude and prayer. WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE ? In our own lives we truly have the same choice in many ways. Worldly things do seem very attractive. Wealth, possessions and comfort aren’t all bad….but , THEY DON”T LAST. Age creeps up, unforeseen circumstances appear and destroy our carefully laid out plans. We are left in a place of confusion, regret, uncertainty and even pain. I HAVE GOOD NEWS ! In Christ there is PEACE AND REST. In Christ there is CLARITY AND HOPE. In Christ there is PATH AND PURPOSE. IN HIM, I KNOW WHO I AM !

FOR ALL WHO ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD ARE SONS OF GOD. FOR YOU DID NOT RECEIVE THE SPIRIT OF SLAVERY TO FALL BACK INTO FEAR, BUT YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION AS SONS, BY WHOM WE CRY, “ABBA FATHER!”

DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND, THAT BY TESTING YOU MAY DISCERN WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD, WHAT IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT. Romans 12:2

FOR THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE HAS SET YOU FREE IN CHRIST JESUS FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. Romans 8:2

In Jesus, WE ARE FREE. FREE TO BE WHO GOD HAS MADE US TO BE. No need to continually search for who you are and try to re-invent yourself. No continual struggle to live up to other’s expectations. No masks, no facades, no false representations….just THE REAL YOU. Made perfectly by God, to be a part of The Body Of Christ and be beside Him in His Kingdom. LOVED UNTO ETERNITY:) Would we really desire anything else ? Dig deep into God’s word and find out who He is, and meet His Son Jesus. Invite Him into your life and SEE YOURSELF THROUGH HIS EYES ! Learn, grow and WALK IN HIS WAYS…..JESUS KNOCKS, WILL YOU OPEN THE DOOR AND SEE WHO YOU TRULY ARE ? GIVE HIM YOUR HEART/JAA

AND TO PUT ON THE NEW SELF, CREATED AFTER THE LIKENESS OF GOD IN TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS. Ephesians 4:24