Thoughts for Life: Who Am I ?

- Sharon Jaynes-

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)

"There’s a game I’ve watched women play at retreats as an icebreaker activity. Each person has the name of a famous or infamous person taped to her back. Then the women walk around giving each other clues about ‘who they are.’

‘You always put off worrying until tomorrow.’ ‘You had so many children you didn’t know what to do.’ ‘You were the queen of soul.’

The point of the game is to figure out your identity. Once you guess correctly, you sit down.

One night, as I watched the ladies play the game, I was struck with its similarity to real life. Many times we determine our identity, by what others tell us about ourselves. You are so smart. You are a loser. You are so pretty. You can do anything you set your mind to. You are so ugly. You are so fat. After a while, those messages determine how we see ourselves, whether true or false. It is only a mature person who realizes that just because a person says that you are this or that, doesn’t make it true.

One of the greatest blessings of becoming a Christian is receiving a new identity. In the Bible, when God touched and changed a person’s life, many times He changed his or her name. He said, ‘You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow’ (Isaiah 62:2). Saul became Paul. Abram became Abraham. Sarai became Sarah. Jacob became Israel. Simon became Peter.

Likewise, when you accepted Christ, God gave you a new identity and a new name. If you want to know who you really are, then you need to look in the Bible and see who God says you are. It may be different from what you’ve heard others say about you, but which do you think is more accurate? Who do you think has a better perception of who you are, your Creator, or other creatures just like yourself? If you are a Christian today, the following verses describe your new identity.

My Identity in Christ

Matthew 5:13 I am the salt of the earth.

Matthew 5:14 I am the light of the world.

John 1:12 I am a child of God.

John 15:15 I am part of the true vine, a channel (branch) of Christ's life.

John 15:15 I am Christ's friend.

John 15:16 I am chosen and appointed by Christ to bear His fruit.

Romans 8:14,15 I am a joint-heir with Christ, sharing His inheritance with Him.

I Corinthians 3:16 I am a temple of God. His Spirit dwells in me.

I Corinthians 12:27 I am a member (part) of Christ's body

2 Corinthians 5:17 I am a new creation.

2 Corinthians 5:18, 19 I am reconciled to God and am a minister of reconciliation...

Ephesians 1:1 I am a saint.

Ephesians 1:3 I am blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places.

Ephesians 1:11 I am sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit who has been given as a pledge of my inheritance.

Ephesians 2:10 I am God's workmanship created in Christ to do His work that He planned beforehand that I should do.

Ephesians 4:24 I am righteous and holy.

That is a lot to put on a nametag, but that is your new identity. Neil Anderson, in his book Victory over the Darkness notes, ‘The reason so many Christians are not enjoying the maturity and freedom which is their inheritance in Christ is because they hold wrong self-perceptions. They don’t see themselves as they really are in Christ. They don’t understand the dramatic change which occurred in them the moment they trusted in Him. They don’t see themselves the way God sees them, and to that degree they suffer from a poor self-image. They don’t grasp their true identity.’

In that paragraph, Dr. Anderson described me perfectly. I had no idea who I was, what I had, or where I was in Christ. As God opened my eyes to the truth, I realized that how I saw myself and how God saw me were very different. I decided to start believing God.

How about you? Are you ready to start seeing yourself as God sees you today? After all, it is the truth!

Let’s Pray

Dear God, I thank You that I am a new creation in Christ. I admit that sometimes I feel just like the old me and act like the old me, but I believe by faith that I am brand new. Thank You that my identity is based on my position in Christ rather than my performance on earth.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.”

Sharon Jaynes on Crosswalk.com (3/13/12) (color added)

YOU ARE WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE (My original post)

796-800 one-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted-

796- Ps. 52:8 "But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever."

797- James 4:15 "For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that."

798- Ps. 77:11 "I will remember the works of the LORD: surely , I will remember thy works of old."

799- Ps. 24:1 "The earth is the LORD's and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."

800- Heb. 13:6 "So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

Quote for today-

- Pastor Frank Mirocco- "God speaks to us where we are at, to take us to where He wants us to be.Things move, things change! Are we ready to listen to Him? He knows all about us, and knows it would blow our minds if we could see what He plans. He changes us in our life style, so we can change into what He has in Mind. Everything is based upon our response to Him. Don't let anything stop you from receiving all of His plans for you!"

Upcoming posts:

15th- God Is Near

Jessica Van Roekel

22nd- Five Reasons to Read Revelations

Lynette Kittle

29th - God's Provision

Xochitl Dixon