I have a confession to make… I let my identity get wrapped up in my earthly titles instead of my heavenly title. I saw this anew when I resigned from being Pastor of Adult Ministries at Christ Community Church on December 21, 2010. I felt (and still feel to some degree) disoriented. Who am I? What is my life about? What should I do now? I realize how little I have allowed the truth of God’s Word to serve as a foundation for who I am, but rather have depended too heavily on earthly things. So, I go back now to God’s Word and I am reminded of my heavenly title – son!
The Apostle John is one of my favorite writers in the Bible, I think because he seems to have a tender heart. As I have been processing through the changes in my life, I have drawn back to his first letter and the following reminders of my true identity…
“…indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3 ESV).
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are” (1 John 3:1 ESV).
“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2 ESV).
And then throw in a dose of the Apostle Paul…
“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:15-17 ESV).
“…he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will…” (Ephesians 1:5 ESV).
How about you? Any identity strugglers out there like me? Maybe I am the only one.
Deus Tecum 