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Identity

Finding Your Identity In Him

Where do you find your identity? Is it in your job? Your relationships? Your grades or accomplishments? Your appearance? If you have a hard time answering, think about it this way: if any of these things disappeared tomorrow, would you still know who you are without them? While caring about these things isn’t bad, we cannot place our identity and hope in temporary things because they will inevitably fade away. Instead, our identity should be found in the One who will never change or disappear: Jesus. 

The best way for us to find identity in Jesus is through a relationship with Him. Let’s look at attributes of Jesus from the book of John that teach us about who He is. 

1) The Bread of Life

In John 6:35, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." Jesus was known for teaching in metaphors and parables. When He says that we will never go hungry, He means we will never hunger spiritually or emotionally. When we fill our minds and hearts with Christ, we don’t need temporary things to fulfill us. 

2) The Light of the World

In John 8:12, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” When we follow Jesus, we are never lost. He is the light of the world, and there is no place we can go where Jesus isn’t. When it feels like hardship and darkness are taking over, we can have hope because Christ’s light will overcome them. In Christ, we have hope and direction. 

3) The Good Shepherd

In John 10:11, Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." Good shepherds will leave ninety-nine sheep to bring one that is lost safely back to the flock. Jesus will do the same for you. Because Jesus is the good Shepherd, you are known, valued, and cared for. 

4) The Resurrection and the Life

In John 11:25, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” Through Jesus, we are saved and have eternal life. Because He was resurrected to life, we have the gift of eternal life in Him. We can rest in the promise that God cherished us so much, that He sent His only son to die, that we might live. 

5) The Way, the Truth, and the Life

In John 14:6-7, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him." When we know Jesus, we know the way to all truth and fulfillment in life. In Christ, we are not lost: we are found.

6) The True Vine

In John 15:5, Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” When we are connected to Jesus, we produce the “fruit of the Spirit” found in Galatians 5:22-23. They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Our lives can be plentiful when we stay connected to Christ as our source. 

When we find our identity in Christ, our security in life will not be based on the fleeting things of this world. The pressure to be validated by people won’t carry the same weight. As we know our Maker, we begin to see and embrace ourselves in the way God intended. 

PRAYER

Father, Thank you for showing Yourself to me. I’m thankful that I can find my identity and purpose in You. As I learn more about You, may I grow in my security and lead a fruitful life that blesses others.  In Jesus’ name, Amen