Who We Are In Christ
I am part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people (1 Peter 2:9).
I am chosen by God, forgiven and justified through Christ. I have a compassionate heart, kindness, humility, meekness and patience (Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12).
Have you ever experienced days where you wonder if your life really matters or you look at others and think “they’ve got it made” or you wonder if your life is really making a positive difference? We live in a world where the media is constantly bombarding us with images of what our lives should look like and what the picture of success should be. For the last few years, the media and government have been trying to tell us what to think, how to act and what our value system should be. What others post on social media may make them look like they are “living the dream” but in reality, they are posting brief moments of the highlights of their lives which may be highly staged. There isn’t one person who doesn’t have difficulties and messes in their lives.
We have to ask ourselves: What is important in life? This world offers immediate gratification from the things we possess, the accomplishments we achieve and the entertainment we enjoy. Whatever demands our time, effort and thought will reveal what we really worship.
We have to constantly remind ourselves that this world and everything in it is just temporary. Our existence in this life is just a brief 80-90 years. This seems like a long time when you’re young, but by the time you get part way through, you can hardly believe how fast it goes. The physical world sure feels solid, indestructible and permanent, but it is not. Hebrews 1:10-12 tells us to get our attention off the immediate, the physical world around us. We are to reorient our lives, our thinking, and our focus toward the Kingdom of God, which is eternal. It literally lasts forever – it starts in this life and continues on into the next.
Don’t accept Satan’s narrative of who you are. Although Satan tries to redefine your identity and importance, it is what God says in His Word about you that counts. Don’t allow the world or society to define who you are or what you should think and do. Self-worth is our deep need to be loved and accepted. This can be a dangerous pursuit if you go looking for it in the wrong places. In God’s economy, we come to Him with nothing. We’re bankrupt and poor. But God pours worth and value into us. He takes His riches and gives them to us. Our worth and significance, then, is a gift from God. It has nothing to do with our looks, talents or accomplishments. It’s all about God and what He’s done for us. (Titus 3:4-5)
Everything in God’s Kingdom is eternal. You are God’s masterpiece whose life matters because you are valuable, worthy, and precious to Him. Stand strong in knowing that you are, and always have been, fully known and fully loved by an all-loving God. He has a wonderful plan for your life in Him where your value and significance matters. His plans are always fulfilling and will involve things He has placed within you since before you were born. Even if you’ve messed up, made mistakes and need to start over, God still has a wonderful plan for you. We need to turn the light on in our lives and expose the thoughts we’ve kept hidden in the dark and let the light of God’s truth tell us who we are in Him. (Psalm 139:23-24)
1 Corinthians 5:17 says that after we accept Christ we are an entirely new creature. Ephesians 2:5-6 says we as believers are seated at His right hand in the heavenly places. Romans 5:17 says we are called to reign in life and Philippians 4:13 says we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. 1 Peter 2:9 says that I have been chosen by God and that my lineage through Christ is Royal and Holy.
That sounds pretty significant to me! I am choosing to identify with this rather than my vulnerabilities, weaknesses and failures. I am choosing to identify with this rather than my bank account, accomplishments, possessions and empty pursuits. I want my life to count for something eternal that will have a positive impact on others for Christ. Everything else will come to an end. What I do for Christ will last forever!
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