What does the Bible Say about my identity? Discover the dramatic difference that this one simple question can make in your life.
In 2013 God started me on a journey to find who I was – my identity. Yes, I was a pastor at Hope of the Generations Church, and I taught classes at Be in Health®, but I didn’t have a clue who I really was supposed to be. I never stopped to find out what the Bible says about my identity.
My whole life, I set my identity in what I could accomplish. I went from growing up in church, then teaching in children’s church, to operating sound and lighting as a youth. After that, I expanded my world to search and rescue, and then I was a fireman. Then I moved into Law Enforcement and went from dispatcher to jailer, to patrol. I was always trying to prove my worth by my actions. I served my community trying to find who I was and, honestly, trying to be someone special.
Even in the church, I’d lost my focus
In 2000 I came to work at the church and took on the next personality as the ‘Make it Happen Guy’. If someone said it couldn’t be done, I would prove them wrong no matter what it would cost me. Then in 2013, I realized I had worked every church service in one manner or another for 13 years, yet I’d lost my focus on my personal core values and God’s Character. My worth was based on my successes and failures, not on God’s view of me.
Matthew 10:29 talks about how the Father knows when a sparrow falls, and we are more valuable than the sparrow.
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. Matthew 10:29 KJV
I had forgotten about Psalm 139 that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. It didn’t say anything about what I did, my successes or my failures, just that I was made fearfully and wonderfully.
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made: marvellous [are] thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139:14 KJV
Finding the right core values
When we don’t have our identity set on what God says about us or in God’s character, we have the wrong core values. It’s not that we are necessarily doing anything wrong or bad; we probably do a lot of correct, right things. But did we do them for the wrong reasons? God sees the motives of our hearts, not just our actions.
Once we accept what the Bible says about our identity, our purpose, our importance in Him, we can move on to grow up in His character for the correct reasons. We can then grow up and mature and begin walking in the Father’s character as Christ did.
Christ’s example
Christ came to show us the Father. John 14 talks about how, if you know Christ, then you should know the Father as well. If you see one, you see the other, because Jesus only did and said what He saw His Father do and say. It was all about showing God the Father’s love for us. Jesus showed us His Father’s character in how He lived His life.
If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. John 14:7 KJV
Finding my identity in God
The journey that God the Father sent me on was to learn who I am. Not in what I do but who I am in Him. What I do, day in and day out, should show the character of God. The foundation of God’s character, God’s core values, our guide to walking in His character, are found in Galatians 5: 22 & 23.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 KJV
Living in the fruit of the Spirit
I found in my journey that I wanted to use the fruit of the Spirit as a grab bag; grab some love, some peace, some joy, just when I needed it, but I was not daily LIVING them.
The fruit of the Spirit weren’t designed for us to just use from time to time, but to LIVE them every day.
Love – Affection, goodwill – No Hate, No Victimization
Peace – Quietness, rest – No Strife, No comparisons
Joy – Cheerfulness, calm delight, gladness – No depression, no rejection
Longsuffering – Patient endurance, steadfastness – No anger, no bitterness
Gentleness – Softness, approachability, moral goodness, integrity – No accusation, no forcefulness
Goodness – Good moral compass, uprightness of heart, kindness – No selfishness, no fraud
Faith – Trust, assurance, belief – No Fear, No Anxiety
Meekness – Gentleness, humility, respectfulness – No pride, no racism, no discrimination
Temperance – Moderation, self-control, a balance in all things – No lust, no idolatry, no self-indulgence
Would you like to grow in your identity in God?
In looking at God’s Character and what the Bible says about your identity, you can ask yourself, “Where am I in God’s Character?”
Blessings,
Would you like to learn how you can grow more into God’s Character? We have a new product available now! It’s a complete, one-day conference taught by Pastor Scott Harper entitled, “God’s Character & Who Am I in It?” CLICK HERE for more information!
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WHO AM I? a teaching by Dr. Henry W. Wright
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