Our Image in Christ

“Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not speak on My own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in Me, who is doing His work.”  -John 14:10

Have you ever found yourself lost in something?  We can often find ourselves lost in movies, entertainment, work, or other activities.  It isn’t wrong to be completely focused on something; in fact God calls us to work diligently and faithfully.

But when something consumes us before God, it can cause identity issues, limiting us from God’s unlimited power and presence in our lives.

Recently I was sitting in church during worship asking God some questions about certain things that were going on in my life.  "Look to Me," I heard Him say. At that moment, a gush of revelation about being "in Christ" came over me. 

"Your image in Me is going to look different than anybody else.  Don’t look to others - look to Me.  I am the source of your true identity."  When we look to Jesus, we don’t look to anything else to find or define ourselves.  We are defined by God and His plan for our lives. We can’t look to others for our identity because God has made us each unique.  It is okay to honor someone who has helped you in your walk, and it is okay to look to an admirable person as a good example.  But, when we cross the line into comparing ourselves and trying to live exactly how they live and do the things they do in order to earn acceptance by others, we are headed for trouble. God made us each uniquely, with a unique call and a unique set of gifts for our life.  This is not to say we do not live blameless, holy lives. 

When we look to Christ, the old image of our old self passes away.  (2 Cor 5:17) We become a new creation in Him.  We are no longer bound by old ways of thinking - we are released to live life to its fullest potential.  Our faith in Christ releases us to pursue all we’ve been given with everything we are.  Our weaknesses are overcome by His image being released in us.    If we are in Him then He is in us - and our true identity with shine through.  We find ourselves in Him.  "Lose your life to find it," (Matt 10:39) means when we lose ourselves in Him we find all we were really meant to be. 

Do you find your image in Christ?  Let Him help you discover all you were meant to be in Him today. 

Our True Identity

"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." -Matthew 16:18
 
Have you ever found yourself lacking confidence? Have you ever found yourself doubting the call of God on your life? I think all of us go through this, even the most mature Christian. But when we get to this place, we need to go back to God's promises, and go back to remembering our true identity in Christ. (Perhaps even begin a journey of truly discovering it!)

Simon Peter was someone in the Bible who is cited as being impulsive and emotional, as evidenced by his unending questions and rash decisions. His name, Simon, meant reed - which is blown and swayed by the wind. But when Jesus first meets Peter, He says, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Peter." -John 1:42

It's interesting to me that during the time Peter was Jesus' disciple, he is called by two names. Isn't that a little bipolar? I would be confused in my identity if I was given two names! But at the end of his three years with Jesus, He tells him, "I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

Peter went from being called something that defined his past mistakes and shortcomings in character to being called a rock - something sturdy, steady, and characteristic of his new life build on The Rock - Jesus. Masks (our false identity) come out of our flesh or wounding, the areas where the enemy has defined us. Our true identity comes from God, via revelation by the Holy Spirit, by submitting our lives to the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. God always sees us in the context of our future destiny, not our past failures.

Are there any areas where the enemy has defined you? Have you allowed your relationship with Jesus to re-define you? Are you on a journey of discovering who you really are in Him? I pray that we will continue to grow into the fullness of all we were meant to be in Him.

What Is My Purpose?

“But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”   -Luke 4:43

Do you know your purpose?  Do you know that God made you with a specific idea in mind? There is no doubt that each of us is unique. But have you ever asked yourself why?

Sometimes it is baffling to try to figure out specifically why God made each of us.  But, it is a wonderful, lifelong journey of self-discovery.  Our gifts and talents collide with our passions, relationships, and an assignment from heaven.  Once we choose God, the journey doesn’t end there.  It is only the beginning.  The Bible says He has great plans for each of His children. (Jer 29:11) And just as Jesus’ was and is, our identity is unique in Christ. (Romans 1:2)

There are many stories in the Bible where God ordained someone for a particular task.  The problem with us is many of us don’t get to fully walk in the purpose God designed specifically for us.  We settle for doing tasks that keep us busy, versus having a real impact in the kingdom. We go to church on Sunday, go home and love our family. But this is the smaller story.  God has a much bigger story in mind.

Mark Driscoll said in a recent sermon: “If Satan can’t make you sin, he will keep you busy. Not doing bad things, but neglecting first things.”  What is the passion that is burning on your heart?  What is the thing that you most enjoy that collides with your gifts, talents, and abilities?

Churches have a purpose. Cities have a purpose.  Nations have a purpose.  Our purpose is tied up in our community, where we live, what church we attend, and what country we live in.  Even what school we go to.  God has a purpose for everyone on this planet, no matter how it looks right now.  God invites us to live our His purposes in our lives, so that we can be fruitful, peace-filled followers of His seeking to reclaim His kingdom on the earth, to bring heaven to earth. (Matt 6:10)

Do you know your purpose?  If you don’t know, I invite you to find out, through prayer, reading the word, trying new things, and perhaps using some tools to help you such as self-assessments.  We can live full, abundant lives living in our purpose.  After all, isn’t that following Christ’s example?

Our Security & Confidence in God

"I know that you, God, are on the side of victims, that you care for the rights of the poor. And I know that the righteous personally thank you, that good people are secure in your presence."  Psalm 140:12-13 

Where do we get our security or our confidence from?  It's often easy to find both our identity and security in other people and things.  How do we know we've misplaced our sense of being, and our sense of belonging?  We'll often feel as though our core value lies outside ourselves, or that another is more valuable than we are.

There are so many cases of misplaced identity and devotion.  Just take a look at the Israelites. They had the answer, and they continued to follow false idols and gods.  Why did they do it?  They struggled with the age-old problem we've always had - do we let God be in control?  Or do we try to take the control back from Him?  (Which never really works out anyway...)

When you think of security, as in home security or a bank account, it means that the "boundaries" or "walls" are fortified.  There is no confusion about who is in or who is out.  Only the right people or things should be there.  Threats to security or safety remain outside the walls.  When we are secure, we know who is in, and who is out.  When God is at the center of our lives, there is no question about our own identity.  

"The Fear-of-God builds up confidence, and makes a world safe for your children." -Proverbs 14:26

Do you find your confidence, security, and identity in the One who made you?  Pray today that you might be even more dependent on Him to fulfill every need - in identity, in security, and most of all - in your own destiny. 

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope,  comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say." 2 Thess 2:16-17