Truly Are

By Pastor Dan Hickling

“As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.”’”—Matthew 11:7–10 (NIV)

There are a few things in this life I’ve come to see in a whole new light. Things I didn’t really mind when I was younger but have now come to recognize and respect as vitally important. One of these things is one’s own sense of identity. The way one sees themselves carries an influential power that’s impossible to measure. It’s like an engine that will pull the boxcars of someone’s being in a certain direction. The thought you think, the feelings you feel, the choices you make . . . they all follow your sense of identity.

This is why having an accurate sense of identity is so important. Otherwise, if someone comes to accept a false definition of who they are, then much of their life (if not all of it) will be led in a false direction. Sadly, countless voices in this world are trying to dictate our identity to us. “You’re this, you’re that . . .” And when we allow these voices to fill in that blank for us, to persuade us about who we are, we go through life playing a character that isn’t truly us.

This basically describes me all the way through high school. But then something happened to me that changed my sense of identity . . . I let Jesus define my identity.

In this passage in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus is doing a lot of defining. He begins by speaking to a crowd who gathered around Him about John the Baptist. He emphasizes how immovable and rugged this man was, how he spoke as a true prophet of God, and even how the Hebrew Scriptures forecasted his ministry as the messenger who would prepare the way for Jesus Himself! That’s who John was, and Jesus defines his identity with divine authority.

But Jesus doesn’t stop there. Notice how He uses His definition of John as a springboard to define the identities of another group of people: “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Matthew 11:11 NIV).

As great as John the Baptist was, someone who is “least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” What’s Jesus saying here? He’s defining the incredible value of those who are part of God’s kingdom, which includes anyone who sees and surrenders their life to Christ as their King. Even the most seemingly insignificant person who does that is greater than the greatest life to have lived (John).

If you’ve surrendered your life to Jesus as your Lord, He defines your identity as being greater than the great John the Baptist. Why? Because you’ve become part of something so much greater than you could ever be on your own. You’re a citizen of God’s eternal kingdom and everything it embodies. This makes you greater than anything this world or even you could believe about yourself! Be sure Jesus is the one defining your sense of identity. What He says about you is all that truly matters because only He can define who you truly are.

Pause: Why is one’s sense of identity such a powerful factor in life, and how does Jesus factor into this?

Practice: Consider how Christ’s definition of your identity diverges from your own or the definitions of others. What should you do about this?

Pray: Lord, we confess we often allow the world and even our own fallen nature to dictate who we are to us. When, in fact, You see us differently, and You have made us greater than we could ever imagine by making us a part of Your kingdom. Help us to shed all these false notions by the strength of Your Spirit and redefine our personal sense of identity by the truth of Your Word. Amen!