Category: Identity

Worthy and Worthwhile

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We live in a world who wants worth to be whatever we want it to be. The truth is our value is because we are made in the image of God. There is no greater worth that people can know.

I typically write this blog for people who have a personal relationship with God. I wonder if anyone reads who doesn’t know what it is like to know who God really is. There are many ways to learn about God – there is only one to know Him personally. If you want to learn more start reading the book of Mark in the Bible. See who Jesus is. He can be trusted – the Bible can be trusted. You will learn the truth. If something is confusing ask God to help and find a church that can teach you the Bible. I can assure you that the greatest joy you can find is knowing who God really is.

Dear Heavenly Father, I’m not sure who will read this post or what they will do with this. I pray that someone will choose to find out Who You are. Please help me to share the truth of the gospel with others including reminding those who know You to continue to trust in You each day.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

The Death of Self

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We don’t like to think about death. There is pain involved. This verse talks about being crucified with Christ. This isn’t literal, physical death. This is the death of our selfish sinfulness. While we feel pain with the death of self, we can know greater joy when allow Christ to take over. Remember as you face the pain of dying to self, there is greater joy to come.

Dear Heavenly Father, please help us to remember that salvation means we are “crucified with Christ”. Please help us to set our own desires aside for the desires of Christ. Thank you for the gift of Jesus.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

My Identity or God’s?

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This year I have been talking about personal identity. We have so much confusion in our culture today. I want to direct my reader’s thinking towards what God says. In this passage the apostle Paul talks about some of his experiences with the Ephesian believers. While Paul did many things, in verse 24 he directs the reader’s attention to the Lord. Paul considered his life to be in last place and service to Jesus to be first.

Our culture pushes a “me first” identity. Sadly as believers we sometimes choose this thinking. We need to remember that me, myself and I should be in last place. Our energy should be more focused on the things of the Lord. How do we do that? Study God’s Word, pray and spend time with people who will pray with you and direct your thinking to God.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us examples like Paul who had proper priorities. Please help us to follow his example and make our lives about You.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Complete

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This life is incomplete. We face challenges and often don’t feel like we get to where we want to go (wherever that is). Sometimes in our pursuit for identity, we put God in second place (or later). Family, friends, job, and other pursuits are good. We gain much enjoyment from them. However, those things are not done well if God is not in first place. I believe we will receive more blessing from those things as we submit to God’s plan to bring us to completion.

Dear Heavenly Father, we ache with the desire to be complete. Please help us to be patient as we wait for Your timing in bringing the good work to completion. Please help us to submit to Your plan and put You first.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Heavenly Minded

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Every now and then, I hear the saying, “Don’t be so heavenly minded you are no earthly good.” I think we need to define what that means. True heavenly mindedness is commanded in the Bible. Colossians 3 begins by telling us to “seek the things that are above”. 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Colossians 3:23 tell us everything needs to be for the honor and glory of God.

I think we know people who seem out of touch with the here and now. That may be true, but it doesn’t change the commands of the Bible. God has told us that He is to be the center of our lives. Everything I do should honor and glorify my Heavenly Father.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the instruction You provide in Your Word. Please help us to obey what You have commanded by living our lives only for You. Give us the strength we need.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Ability through Grace

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Part of our identity as believers of Jesus Christ is good works. Doing good works on our own is exhausting and frankly, not possible for long. God gives us the means to “abound in every good work.” That is only possible through His grace. As I study God’s Word and seek to live it, I learn more about how God’s grace works. This is a life long pursuit.

Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to focus on Your grace. I want to live the sufficiency that brings. Thank You for providing.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

A Better Boast

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We can get so caught up in our own identity, that we miss a better option. This passage talks about circumcision which was a big deal to the Jews in Bible times. They were more interested in the fact of their circumcision than in the cross of Christ which made circumcision unnecessary.

Today, the variety of choices for identity are overwhelming. That is why we need to narrow our choices down by looking at what the Bible says. We can rejoice in what God has done as we read and understand God’s Word. A better identity is waiting. Let’s pursue it together.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for providing a better identity through Jesus’ death on the cross. Thank You for providing a way to that identity through the instruction in the Bible. Please help us to pursue it.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Vigilance for Life

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Our hearts are considered the seat of our emotions, intellect and will. Proverbs tells us to “keep our heart with all vigilance”. Emotions are powerful and can lead us astray without proper use of the intellect and will. Our society pushes allowing our emotions to lead. God knew this would happen and gave us guidance in His Word. The book of Proverbs is filled with wisdom to help us lead our emotions appropriately.

Managing our emotions is challenging, but a worthwhile pursuit. Living the way God tells us is always worth the effort.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the wisdom You give. Please guide us to be vigilant with our hearts. We need Your help to direct our emotions, intellect and will towards Your ways.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Old vs. New

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As I continue to look at the idea of personal identity, I have to look at Ephesians 4:22-24.  As I have mentioned before, I think we have the tendency to cling to a me-centered identity.  The Bible tells us to put off the old self which has deceitful desires.  I think we can struggle being honest about what we want in life.  Too many times we allow selfishness to rule our thinking. 

Verse 23 tells us to be renewed and then verse 24 talks about putting on the new self which is God-like righteousness.  That is a pretty tall order.  However, God gives us what we need throughout Scripture to work towards this goal. 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving Your Word to guide us through life.  Please help us to put off the old deceitful self and put on the new according to Your righteousness and holiness.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.  Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV)

Exceedingly Abundant

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Ephesians 3:20 can give us goosebumps as we think of all the happy things God can do.  However, as I look at the context – one of spiritual growth and maturity – my mind goes down a different path.  I believe the Christian life can bring much joy, but there is sorrow as well.  The difficult things often bring about the most spiritual growth.   So, what is the exceeding abundance?  I believe 2 Corinthians 9:8 gives us the answer. “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”  God’s grace brings the abundance that He wants.  Abundance for every good work.

I fear we come to verses like Ephesians 3:20 with selfish thoughts.  Selfishness is often a part of our identity.  We need to give our own desires to God and He will give us His grace for abundant good works.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the abundance You provide.  Please help me to see the ways You want to change my identity from self-centeredness to grace filled good works.  Please strengthen me for the tasks ahead. I give You praise for all You do.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.