We spend a lot of our time and energy in trying to find out who we are and where we belong. Marketers want to influence us by showing us possible identities – and stuff that goes along with that image. We are told to make something of ourselves. So we try to be successful, to be something, anything, really. Yet, we might miss our true identity altogether if we pass God’s invitation to come to him.

Henri Nouwen has said, ‘Jesus came to announce to us that an identity based on success, popularity and power is a false identity- an illusion! Loudly and clearly he says: ‘You are not what the world makes you; but you are children of God’.’ Your self-made or world-imposed identities are illusions. Your true identity is as a child of God. And that does change everything.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12, ESV,*).

Finding Your True Identity

When we understand the beauty of being a child of God, we can stop pressing ourselves – and others. Our value is not based on earned merits or bought luxuries, it’s based on the merit of Jesus Christ. As children of God, we have an eternal identity. We are wanted, loved, and valued. Nothing will ever change that. So we can concentrate on other things that earning our value or proving ourselves to others. We can concentrate on loving. First God loved us so now we are capable to love.

Nouwen continues ‘To the degree that we embrace the truth that our identity is not rooted in our success, power, or popularity, but in God’s infinite love, to that degree can we let go of our need to judge.” And when we are able to let go of judging, ourselves or others, that’s when we start living well. When we do not judge or try to impress anyone, we are free to be gracious, to love, to enjoy life as children of God.

So let’s truly embrace our identity as children of God. Let’s let the idea of being heirs of God Almighty really sink in and permeate every inch of our being. Then we can start celebrating life and the Giver of Life.

 

Let us pray

Gracious God,
Thank you for loving us even when we are not lovable,
thank you for giving us our true identity as your children.
Help us to let go of our fake identities and
truly embrace you and being your children.
Enable us to let go of judging and pretending.
Send us so much love and grace
that there’s plenty for us and everyone we meet.
Show us who we are in you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Have you fully embraced your true identity in Jesus?

P.S. The site is under construction, please be patient. Feel free to comment and give advice!

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you learn to let go of illusions and embrace who you are in Christ!

*[As you might have noticed, I enjoy reading the Bible in different translations and love comparing them. I have started linking the Bible verses toBiblegateway.com so you can easily read (and compare) them in the different versions I’ve used while preparing each post.].

Photo by Blaise Vonlanthen on Unsplash. Linking up today with Dance with Jesus, Five-minute Friday, Worth Beyond Rubies.