Identity Part 3
In part 2 we discussed a basic outline of *some* theological reasons to see our identity in Christ. In this post I want to be highly practical about how we can find our identity in Christ day to day.
So I want to make application in 5 categories: reputation, association, values/interests, pursuits, and purpose.
1) Reputation: Examine your reputation and see if it is in line with a Christ like reputation? You may start by asking your friends if they consider you a good Christian and what that means? If you don’t have friends you can start by asking yourself why? So identity is what you are known for and if you want to find your identity you need to ask "am I known for being a follower of Christ?” This does not mean that we are to work at making people think well of us. Our reputation is not formed through people pleasing or manipulating people, but through integrity and closeness with Jesus who transforms us into loving, patient, gentle, kind, faithful, forgiving people.
—Colossians 3:12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,…
2) Association: What you are associated with points to your identity. If you are more proud to have a title or be thought of as person in the community then you are associated with your character then you are not identifying with Christ. Identity is what we are associated with then ask "when people think of me do they think about my character (which should mirror character of God) or my accolades, career, or hobbies? Is what I do for a living more substantial than my commitment to Christ? Is my group one that represents The Lord Jesus and is my social life consisting of people who also value Him as much as I do?” Do they think of my community as one that points to Jesus or one that points to … anything else. We can super family oriented and not be closely associated with Jesus. I know because I was!
This is why each and every one of you should have a vested interest in the health of this church and its Biblical adherence. The closer this church associates with the Scripture in all that it does the more easily you will be associated with it. Your identity will be easily felt.
When you make something about your agenda or your opinion and you raise that up as equally important to the Word of God than you are weakening the body and your association with it so that our identity is weaker because of it.
—Matthew 5:13-16 “13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
— John 15:15 —I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
3) Values/Interests: Our identity is seen in what we value and what peeks our interest.
Anytime we feel angry, or jealous, or frustrated about something - it is an indication that we are valuing something. Now I have never met a person who is angry or jealous because a person has patience or is gentle.
Normally, we feel upset or jealous, or intimidated, or angry, or anxious over the fact that someone has something we want. So we need to notice those things we value and take account responsibility for them.
Identity is seen in what we take interest in and therefore we ask "What grabs my attention?" and "Why do I notice the things I notice and want the things I want?" Are those things consistent with what you tell people? Are you content with what you notice and want or do you wish it were different? Often what grabs our interest is particularly tied to what we value, so we ask "what makes me angry?" "why do I get frustrated and with whom or what circumstance?" and "what makes me feel happy?"Ask yourself: what is one thing I could get that would make me feel totally better about life? or "what does my check book and my calendar say about what I value?" Are you identified with Christ in these areas?
4) Pursuits: What we pursue is an indication of our identity
We pursue what we value.
Sometimes we pursue something out of habit and tradition.
Our pursuits are indication of who we are aligning ourselves with and what we declare to the ourselves and everyone else is worthwhile.
What we spend our time on is part of who we are, and examining how much time we spend on social media, and at work, and on entertainment. For our pursuits are our fruit that is produced through intimacy with Christ.
Matthew 7:18-23 — A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
NOTICE:
— Only a good tree will have good fruit so a truly saved person will produce fruit their pursuits will be pointing to Jesus
— Our pursuits can seem good and look bad “Lord, Lord” - they did miracles and left out Jesus!
— everyone who acts out in accordance with what God has done inside them is foundational strong and not tossed or disturbed.
James 1:21-25 — Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
NOTICE:
— we put away (repent of) the wrong pursuits
— we act out on what we believe as a way to clearly see our identity.
— For a person who does not act on what He claims to have been transformed by is a like a person who thinks he knows exactly what he is because he believes certain things, but then he has an identity crisis. But those who act out on what they hear form God’s Word are people grounding themselves in their identity with Christ.
5) Purpose:
Also, Identity is about our purpose. Both from minute to minute and in an overall sense, our purpose is what motivates us to get out of bed and do anything. Understanding motivation is essential in finding our identity in Christ, because recognizing what motivates us can be a direct line to finding our purpose. Perhaps it needs to be changed? Well, at least you know. If you don't recognize what motivates you then you cannot altar it, nor can you can you clearly see what it is you are after in many cases. Purpose is often interchangeable with “joy”. We have a great purpose/joy God has tasked us with in pointing people to Him and seeking Christ above all things.
Some specific applications: Ladies
The anxiety you feel, the jealousy you feel, the conflict you engage in and the intimidation you feel has a lot to do with your identity. When you feel your identity challenged by someone else’s success or their perceived confidence, there seems to be immediate confusion about how to address this within your own soul. An antidote to this is — your purpose outweighs your jealousy, anxiety, and anger.
When you meet another women who does something better than you or has something better than you, or makes you feel a way, examine that feeling in light of two tings:
1- What am I valuing that makes me feel like this?
2 - How can I point this person to Christ and rejoice with them? (Rejoice meaning to worship because of their success)
Someone else’s success never altars your purpose. If your aim is right their success should fulfill your purpose. So you can rejoice in their talents and gifts and promote their gifts as a means that cause you to worship. Because someone else’s talents and gifts is furthering your purpose - which is to worship God and enjoy Him forever. If life was truly not about you and you saw your purpose as being directly tied to Christ being formed in people then every time someone was doing well you would rejoice as you are accomplishing your purpose.
As an example, there is a big difference between valuing the excellent parenting of a women and wanting your children to act like hers. Parenting is admeriable and helpful in producing christ-like, well adapted, healthy people into the world. But wanting your children to act like someone else’s is often a sign you don’t appreciate the gifts and personalities that God gave your children and are coveting someone else’s life. When you feel jealous, or angry because of the way a woman dresses, or decorates, or the attention she gets you are valuing the wrong things. And that feeling should be a warning sign. When we are valuing Christ being formed in our sister we want the best for them and can rejoice in their success. We can be glad when we see them succeed. So if you find your identity threatened by comparing your marriage to someone else’s on Facebook, then you might be valuing the wrong thing.
Men: Seek to make Jesus the hero of your story. Both day to day, and overall. Men want to be the hero, to their wife, to other women, to their friends, coworkers, you name it - we want to be the one who saves the day. We want to be the hero of everything. If Christ is our identity then we can find great joy and purpose in making Him the hero of the story. Don’t fall to the temptation to step in and take credit.
1 Peter 2:1-5 — So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Identity is reputation, association, values/interests, pursuits, and purpose. Let us be active in aligning ourselves with Christ who is the only way we can anchor an identity and locate our place in time and space. For He has bought us with a price and by belonging to Him our whole person is changed.
