Down Is Not My DestinyNäide

DON’T LET YOUR PAST DISTORT YOUR IDENTIFICATION!

An identity transfer occurs once a minister declares the couple "husband and wife" in a traditional Christian marriage ceremony. The young lady changes from a beautiful bride to a loving wife and, consequently, gets a new last name. She leaves her father’s house, comes under a new authority, and enters a new relationship. The first man, her father, is now overruled by a younger, newer man, her husband. She has a new identity. She changes from single to married, from a Ms. to a Mrs. Her old life is gone, and a new life has begun! When we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, we get a new identity! We are no longer victims; in Jesus Christ, we are now victorious! The Bible says in 2nd Corinthians 5:17,

“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become brand new.”

As Christians, we must know and embrace who we are in Jesus Christ because folks surround us and force us to seek and redefine who we are.

In today’s reading, David is King of Israel. In verse 1, he asks if there is anyone left in the family of Saul to whom he may show kindness and, in response, someone remembered Ziba, a servant of King Saul’s who knew the answer to that question. In verse 3, David asks Ziba the same question he asked in verse 1. Listen to Ziba’s response, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet.” Ziba never mentioned his name. Ziba had labeled Mephibosheth a cripple, but do you know what the name Mephibosheth means? It means, "HE WHO EXTERMINATES SHAME" Ziba labeled him a cripple, but Mephibosheth had a name that meant he was a conqueror or an exterminator of shame!

The key to moving from being a victim to living victoriously in Jesus is not letting the stuff that happened to you become your identity. You are defined by what God says about you and not by what others say about you! You are blessed! You are worthy! You are loved! Your identification comes from who you are in Jesus Christ, not by what you possess and not by anyone who left you or hurt you.

PERSONAL REFLECTION: Today, rejoice in the fact that in Jesus Christ, you are an overcomer! The Bible says in Romans 8:37 that “…we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”