I have been thinking quite a bit on identity. The more that I
think about identity, I realize how much I tend to wrap my identity in things
of this world such as my job, the groups I'm apart of, my relationship status,
how many friends I have, clothes, my interests etc. Putting identity in these
things helps one feel loved, accepted and wanted.
So you're probably wondering.. Meg, where are you going with
this and what is our true identity?
To me, true identity is where I am ultimately accepted by a
group of people and I'm able to fully be myself. When I was in highschool, I
tried to put my identity in different groups such as band or the buddhist youth
group that I was apart of. As much as I tried to find acceptance and worth in these
groups, it seemed as if I had to change who I was to "fit in." I was
completely lost. I had a hard time finding personality and alot of that stemmed
from unworthiness, shame and the sense of feeling completely and utterly
unloved and unaccepted. Maybe you could relate. Maybe you were that one girl
that wanted to be apart of the "popular" clique or maybe
you tried everything in your will power to be chosen in that sorority.
Here are a few questions you can ask yourself.
Why am I trying to find acceptance in ___________________?
Does it give me life?
Do I feel loved by _____________?
Am I wanted by _______________?
Whatever you are thinking or processing, know this:
You are loved. You are wanted. You are accepted.
15 While Jesus was having dinner
at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his
disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When
the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners
and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax
collectors and sinners?”
17 On hearing this, Jesus said
to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have
not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:15-17
Jesus was perfect, blameless and righteous yet he
chose to sit down with sinners and have dinner with them. The
same goes for us. We are sinners yet Christ died to give us life. He chose to
sit down and know you. Even as sinful as we are, he accepts and picks us up
exactly where we're at to simply give us identity and life. In Christ, we are accepted just as we are and from there our recognition that we are in need of a savior comes into play. We realize that our old self has past and our new self has come. We are made new in Christ and with him we are able to experience true life and acceptance because our identity is wrapped in the simple truth that Jesus died to give us life and that it was an act to reconcile us back to the one and true living God. Because we are reconciled back to him, we are able to fully embrace the fact that we have a relationship with him and we have full access to receiving everything he has for us.
So embrace the fact that you were saved by grace and that he ultimately loves you! That is where our ultimate identity derives from.. Jesus.
So where are you placing your identity?
