What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. 1 John 3:1 (MSG)
Sometimes our identity can seem like a struggle. Upbringing, parents, grandparents, trauma, tragedies and legalistic religious teaching can all affect how we see ourselves. We may identify ourselves as, “I’m an alcoholic,” “I’m a mother,” or “I’m a pilot,” but our behaviours, relationships and careers do not determine who we actually are inside.
You see, salvation is all about our identity. I remember one man who turned his life around completely after giving his life to Christ. He had suffered childhood trauma and had been struggling in several areas of his life, but after discovering Jesus Christ, things began to change. He started rising up in his career, his marriage and family life started to flourish, and he plugged into volunteering at church with passion. The transformation was incredible.
What had changed in this man? He was realizing that his true identity in Christ was not rooted in his past mistakes, behaviours or relationships! He was being taught his true identity in Christ: the new creation, empowered with the Spirit and nature of God within him, someone deeply loved with incredible value, belonging to a family with a loving heavenly Father. Salvation involves so much more than the forgiveness of sins. It gives us a completely new, life-changing identity!
It is vital that we root our identity in Christ. Continually renew your mind by plugging into God’s Word and who He says you are: a redeemed, loved, invaluable child of God with immense purpose and an awesome destiny!