Identity is my genesis, my name, story, connection to
life. As a young woman I tried to create my own identity. I loved reinventing
myself. Every Saturday morning my mother would take me to the movie theater. I’d
come home adopting my favorite actress’s stance or subtle smile. I worked hours
on end trying to mimic Twiggy’s pout, overarched eyebrows, and double-thick mascaraed
lashes. But I owned this metamorphosis and could cause its demise with the
swipe of a Ponds cold cream filled washrag.
Sometimes it’s fun to reinvent yourself, pretend to
change your identity. But often the desire to change is due to fear. Fear of
not keeping up, not being like others. No one wants to feel different. True identity
is fragile, especially if we base it on a cultural worldview rather than God’s Biblical
viewpoint.
During our Christmas dilemma of possible identity
theft, my husband and I were able to pull back and re-center ourselves. I was
so thankful my daughter had asked me to do a Bible Study with her last November
that prepared me. Sharing some pivotal comments from the book with my husband allayed
his concerns. We all need to understand and know who we are in Christ in order
to keep our focus on our true identity.
Identity Theft:
Reclaiming The Truth Of Who We Are In Christ
In this book several authors got together to
Biblically explore identity in three ways:
· Identity
theft: Expose our false notions of identity
· Identity
truth: Understand the biblical truth of our identity in Christ
· Identity
transformed: Reflect on what it looks like to live in our new (and true)
identity
·
The author’s messages were structured in the above
framework, but their use of different scriptures, real-life stories, and
commentary highlighted and enlighten the reader on “Who am I in Christ?”
“An author and missionary Elisabeth Elliott expressed,
‘The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian, but
the fact that I am a Christian makes me a different kind of woman.’ Our
identity in Christ is a fixed anchor guiding us through the changing seasons
and circumstances of our lives as women. We’re not primarily defined by our
college degree, marital status, the number of children we have, where we live,
or the work we do. It’s our identity in Christ that shapes every aspect of our
lives. As Paul told the Colossians, ‘He is before all things, and in Him all
things hold together’ (Col 1:17. Understanding who we are in Christ impacts
every other area of our lives.” (Melissa Kruger, Identity Theft)
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a people for His own possession, that you may
proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of
darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not
a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had
not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
(1 Pet 2:9-10)
Remember who you are in Christ. Remember all He has
done for you. You are His and He is yours.
“Who
am I that the highest King
Would
welcome me
I
was lost but He brought me in
Oh
His love for me
Oh
His love for me”
“Who
You Say I Am” Hillsong Worship
Remember you are who Christ says you are.
I am loved. (Jeremiah 31:3)
I am a child of God. (1 John 3:1)
God delights in me. (Zephaniah 3:17)
I am forgiven. (1 Peter 2:24)
I am washed clean. (Isaiah 1:18)
I am free. (Galatians 5:1)
I am a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19)
I am adopted into God’s family. (Romans 8:15)
I am co-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17)
I am righteous. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
I am new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
I am never alone. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
I am wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)
I am whole in Christ. (Colossians 2:10)
A wonderful life-enriching book. I hope you will buy
it and enjoy each chapter. It will stretch your understanding of your identity
all the way to the Throne Room.
God bless you!
Angela
