Your perceived identity can shape your destiny. Our identity is often founded on temporary, transitory things like the opinions of others, our history, personal appearance, friends, and activities. It is important as Christians we not hold to an identity based on the opinions of others or even ourselves. If we will become all God desires we be, it is critical we see ourselves through His perspective. Instead of fostering pride, walking according to our new identity in Christ is humbling and satisfying.
An angel came unexpectedly to Mary and said, "You are highly favoured among women, and the LORD is with you: blessed are you among women." The next verse reveals that Mary did not see herself this way. Luke 1:29 says, "But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was." She didn't say, "I knew it! Finally someone else realises what I have known all along!" She found the statement of the angel troubling even though it was the truth. We can do the same.
Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress when the Angel of the LORD came to him and announced, "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valour." Gideon's perspective was quite the opposite and he questioned the veracity of the claim of the divine messenger. Judges 6:13 says, "Gideon said to Him, "O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, 'Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites." Needless to say, Gideon struggled and even resisted to agree with God's assessment of him and His plans concerning him..
Perhaps one of the most classic instances of people holding onto their own identity despite being at odds with God's assessment is Moses. The Living God said to Moses in Exodus 3:10, "Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." For decades God had been preparing Moses to deliver His people from bondage in Egypt, yet Moses initially refused to budge. He was the very man God planned to use to save the children of Israel, but Moses could not see it. Exodus 3:11 says, "But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" God promised to be with Moses, but at that moment even that wasn't enough for Moses.
As Christians, our identity ought to be found in the person of Jesus Christ. He demonstrated God's love for us through His death on the cross, and He rose from the dead in miraculous power. The same Holy Spirit which came upon Him has filled all believers, and this should radically change the way we see ourselves. It would be a grave error to distort this into a self-exalting or self-empowering theme. In themselves Mary, Gideon, and Moses were unable to accomplish what God desired to do through them. Each of these saints ultimately believed God's Word and walked in obedience to Him, and God brought deliverance and salvation through them. When our eyes are fixed on Jesus and not on ourselves, then we can begin to live according to God's view of us. God has great plans, and you can be part of them if you will trust and believe Him.
An angel came unexpectedly to Mary and said, "You are highly favoured among women, and the LORD is with you: blessed are you among women." The next verse reveals that Mary did not see herself this way. Luke 1:29 says, "But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was." She didn't say, "I knew it! Finally someone else realises what I have known all along!" She found the statement of the angel troubling even though it was the truth. We can do the same.
Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress when the Angel of the LORD came to him and announced, "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valour." Gideon's perspective was quite the opposite and he questioned the veracity of the claim of the divine messenger. Judges 6:13 says, "Gideon said to Him, "O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, 'Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites." Needless to say, Gideon struggled and even resisted to agree with God's assessment of him and His plans concerning him..
Perhaps one of the most classic instances of people holding onto their own identity despite being at odds with God's assessment is Moses. The Living God said to Moses in Exodus 3:10, "Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." For decades God had been preparing Moses to deliver His people from bondage in Egypt, yet Moses initially refused to budge. He was the very man God planned to use to save the children of Israel, but Moses could not see it. Exodus 3:11 says, "But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" God promised to be with Moses, but at that moment even that wasn't enough for Moses.
As Christians, our identity ought to be found in the person of Jesus Christ. He demonstrated God's love for us through His death on the cross, and He rose from the dead in miraculous power. The same Holy Spirit which came upon Him has filled all believers, and this should radically change the way we see ourselves. It would be a grave error to distort this into a self-exalting or self-empowering theme. In themselves Mary, Gideon, and Moses were unable to accomplish what God desired to do through them. Each of these saints ultimately believed God's Word and walked in obedience to Him, and God brought deliverance and salvation through them. When our eyes are fixed on Jesus and not on ourselves, then we can begin to live according to God's view of us. God has great plans, and you can be part of them if you will trust and believe Him.
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