Reflections

¹⁴ For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.  Romans 8:14-17

As a Christian I constantly struggle with my identity in Christ.  I grew up in a church that taught you had to be good to go to heaven.  I was told by some as a child that I would not amount to anything.  At one time I defined myself by my career.  Currently, I am a wife, mother, and pastor.  However, we are told in the bible we are sons of God; we have been adopted and are fellow heirs with Christ.  This is where, at times, I have confused my identity.

Sometimes I struggle to see myself the way God sees me.  I don’t always act like a child of God’s.  There are times I walk in accordance to my flesh and not by the spirit.  Many times I have walked by sight and not by faith.  In the times I have fallen or made mistakes I often ask myself “who am I?”  It’s very easy to fall into the old patterns of my thinking that I am not good enough or what I do is not good enough.  Honestly, I wish I could always see myself the way God sees me.

There are times I try to impress God with my “good” deeds.  I seek His acceptance instead of receiving His love.  I struggle with my faith when I don’t understand my identity.  Things are much more difficult when I look at my own weaknesses instead of keeping my eyes on Jesus.  When God looks at me He sees His child; not a slave nor a servant.  There are times I act like a slave full of fear and doubt lacking faith in God.

God created us in His image and in His likeness.  Jesus knew and understood His identity; He only did what He saw the Father doing.  Jesus didn’t struggle with sin; sin was not a part of Him because sin was not in the Father.  God hates sin; Jesus hates sin.  Jesus healed because the Father is a life giver.  Jesus raised the dead because death has no place in the Father.  What fellowship does light have with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14)  Jesus saved us so that we would be reconciled with the Father.  So through Jesus we are made righteous and are now considered the children of God.  Even the Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 

Each day I have to make a conscious decision to know that I am a child of God’s.  I am no longer to walk according to my flesh or what others say that I am.  I should not hold the opinion of others or of myself above what God says about me – He is perfecting me in the image of Jesus.

So I will no longer live based on my past identity but I will press forward in understanding and knowing my true identity in Jesus.   Do you know your identity?