Your Kingdom Come: God’s Heart for DiversityShembull

Day 3 - He gives us our Identity 

 Questions of identity and purpose are ones that many of us wrestle with. In our search for meaning, the answers are often limited to personal or social characteristics: gender, ethnicity, disability, socio-economic status or political persuasions. We are taught to place our confidence in our looks, intellect, achievements and abilities but when we do so, it leads to self-righteousness and idolatry. In Philippians 3:4-6, Paul lists the many things he could boast in. His credentials were highly esteemed in his time and yet he recognised that these paled in comparison to his true identity. 

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ.” (Philippians 3:8-9)

Our true identity is given to us. As Christians we are defined not by birth or ability but by what God has done for us, the relationship He has with us, the eternal life we find in Him and how He sees us – in Christ. If we take hold of our identity in Christ, we no longer fear the future, we do not need to compare ourselves and we can find security and safety as we now boast in the work of the cross. 

In Him, 

We are chosen (1 Peter 2:9), We are adopted (Romans 8:15-16), we are free (Romans 6:18), we are loved (1 John 4:9), we have peace (John 14:27), we are healed by His stripes (1 Peter 2:24), we are not forsaken (Psalm 94:14) and we are joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16-17). 

These are just some of the truths that should shape how we see ourselves and when we place our identity in the immutable, omnipotent work of Christ, it gives us the firm foundation to build our lives on and fulfil our purpose. 

Though our personal and social distinctions should shrink in comparison to the what Christ has done, it does not negate the reality of our sex or ethnicity, intellect or abilities. As we reflected yesterday, these characteristics are also given by God but in Him they have a purpose; to point back to Him. Whether you have spent your lifetime confident in your social standing or have felt devalued by society for your personal characteristics, there is freedom to be found in knowing that our life is not about us. We are called to submit all that we are to Him and to use everything we have to make Him known. This is us church – found in Him and defined by Him.

 Reflection Points

• Thank God for the identity that you have in Christ 
• Consider if there are any of your characteristics that you place your confidence in and repent if needed
• How can you use your social or personal characteristics to make Christ known?
• Ask God today to renew your mind about your identity and give you fresh hope about your purpose