Where Should We Find Our Identity
This question has one simple answer. As Christians, we should find our identity in Christ. Because of our sinful nature, we find our identity and things of the world. I know that I (Natalee) personally have struggled with this in my life. Since I stopped homeschooling and came to a charter school, Social Media and the people I was around definitely affected who and what I found my identity in. Starting GFJ really helped me to start digging deeper into God’s word, and understanding that my identity lies, not in the world, but in Him. I hope reading this blog post can help you to do the same.
Where Are You Getting Your Identity?
Like Natalee has already mentioned, it’s hard not to find your identity in the world. I (McKenzie) can pretty much guarantee you that everyone around you at some point has found their identity and self-worth in someone or something that they shouldn’t have. This isn’t something we have to say or do, so a lot of times we place our identity somewhere it shouldn’t be without even thinking. That is one of the many reasons we should spend time in the Bible so we can really align our thoughts with God. At one point in my life, I loved filming, editing, and uploading videos to social media! I was “the girl who loved posting to YouTube''! All of my family and most of my friends knew that, so when the computer I used to edit stopped working I had no clue who I even was! All that time I just thought of it as a fun hobby I was passionate about, but whenever I didn’t have the computer to make videos with, I quickly found out it had actually become an ideal in my life and that’s where I had found my identity. Whenever we look to someone or something in the world to give us our identity, our identity will often change. You could put your identity in how amazingly clear your face is, but tomorrow whenever you wake up and find out that the sunscreen you used the day before made you break out, then you’re also probably going to put your identity in each pimple on your face. When we as Christians put our worth and identity in God, the maker of Heaven and Earth we could never be disappointed, but rather humbled that the Most High values us! We often place our identity in our occupation, our education, our hobbies, our abilities, our appearance, our family, and the list could probably go on! So… Where are YOU getting your identity RIGHT NOW? And be honest with yourself! Lying only makes things worse. Maybe take time to really pray and think about it!
How Can You Get Your Identity In Jesus?
You may be asking yourself “How do I get my identity in Jesus?”
2 Corinthians 5:17 says:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Once you are saved, you should strive to do what is right and you shouldn’t have that desire to sin like you did before, because like the verse says “old things are passed away”. ( Just so there’s no misunderstanding I’m not saying Christians don’t sin because we do, everyone has a sinful nature, and being a Christian doesn’t change that but we should still want to do what’s right, and when we do sin we should want to make it right.)
After you’ve accepted Jesus into your heart, like the verse says, “All things become new” that includes your identity. So once you’ve become a Christian your identity automatically changes to being in Jesus. If you’re already a Christian there isn’t anything “special” you need to do to get your identity in Jesus, you’ve already got it.
What Is Ephesians One Even Trying To Say?
Ephesians one is a chapter that I (McKenzie) find myself going over in my head time and time again. Jesus is literally painting our worth and identity over us in such a humbling and comforting way! Ephesians was written by Paul (an apostle of Jesus Christ) while he was put in prison by the Romans, and it was a letter to the people of Ephesus (The Ephesians!). While Paul wrote the letter for the Ephesians to apply to their lives, God gave it to us for the same reason (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The verses that we are looking at today (Verses 3-14) are intended, by Paul, to praise God, not ourselves! When I first saw these verses I looked at them in such a prideful way. Almost like “Wow! Look at me! I’M chosen! I’M accepted by the God of the universe!”, and while God is showing us who we are in Him, Paul was writing this to show us who God is( v.1 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: who hath…”)! Now because I know if I literally write out all of the verses and talk about each one, y’all would probably just skip this section and go to the next. So for that reason here is a KJV bible website you can use if you don’t have a Bible (https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Ephesians-Chapter-1/ ) because we really want to encourage y’all to go to the Word for y’alls self the next time you get a minute! But what our identity in these verses is a lot different than our “identity” according to the world. While the world will tell us that our identity is in our grades, past, belongings, looks, talents, Instagram followers, how popular we are, you fill in the blank, God is saying that we are CHOSEN (v. 2)! Not only that, but He chose US, little humans who have failed him in countless ways, “before the foundation of the world”! You and I (if you are saved) were chosen by God before the earth was even made! So we know that we are chosen, and while seeing this can really already change the way we think of our identity, He doesn’t stop there. We are adopted (v.5), accepted (v.6), redeemed (v.7), forgiven (v.7), sealed with the Holy Spirit (v.13... God is the Holy Spirit!), and He is now our inheritance (v.14)! See what I mean by Jesus painting our identity over us?! He just lays it out there with no holding back. We encourage you guys to really memorize and hide these verses in your heart. Not all at one time, but maybe just start on one verse every week or so. This way, next time your flesh is wanting to give in to what the world says about you, we can turn away from these dishonest thoughts and turn to God for our identity!
The One Who Designed You Gets To Define You!
I feel like there are a lot of people who let the world define who they are. I know how hard it can be to try not to let that sort of thing get to you. I (Aly) love horses. Pretty much everyone who knows me well enough knows that about me. And sometimes people will make little comments here and there about how I like horses. Like for example: One time in Sunday school my youth pastor asked me a question about the lesson and it took me a minute to think and someone in my class said “Oh she’s probably thinking about horses.” And I feel like that’s all people know me as is “horse girl” which obviously isn’t a bad thing at all. Even though horses are a big part of who I am and what I love to do that’s not all I am.
You might feel the same way I do about a certain thing people define you as, but we shouldn’t let other people define who we are. The only person you should let define you is Jesus.
Ephesians 2:10 says:
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
The Lord created man from dust, and he created us in His image. Every little detail about you from the color of your hair to what activities you love, that’s exactly the way Jesus wanted you to be.
The people around you may know things about you because you’ve told them those things but Jesus is all knowing. He knows absolutely everything there is to know about you. He knows how many hairs are on your head but most importantly He knows your heart.
Now, I’d say that the way Jesus looks at you and me and the way He defines us is way more important than what other people may think.
I Am Who You Say I Am!
I (Natalee) hope this blog has helped you to understand where Christians should find our identity. We should not be worrisome about what the world thinks of us, but about what the Lord of the world thinks about us. As Christians, the world is going to constantly ridicule us about our religion and our relationship with Christ. We must not think on these things and only on the things of the Creator.