Show Me Some ID Please (Part Two)

During my year long hiatus from blogging, I wrote a book -- to my daughter, for my daughter, and in some ways, about my daughter. You see, as we prepared to let go of Mom's house, I got to thinking about who I was and where I came from. My childhood, my parents' relationship was not the typical "Ozzie and Harriet" of the '60s, and often I felt "less than." But as I cleaned out room after room, I discovered answers to some burning questions, and I discovered all God had done to make sure I would be sitting here testifying to His goodness right at this very moment. That made me feel special, cared for, and dearly loved by an awesome Heavenly Father! Christine's childhood wasn't a whole lot better than mine, and though she had never said it, I thought she might share some of the same feelings. I wanted her to know God can make all things new; I wanted her to know what God is able to do despite any terrible decisions her father and I made; I wanted her to know He has a plan for her and He can keep her in it; I wanted her to know she, too, is special, cared for, and dearly loved by an awesome Heavenly Father. I want her to rest her identity fully in the Lord.

So, what does an identity in Christ look like?

1. We are God's children. 1 John 3:1a. "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" To me, this one is a biggie! That the Creator of the universe would call me "daughter"; that He would love me as a parent loves a child; that He would protect me and cherish me as a Father does his daughter? HUGE!

2. We are not condemned. Romans 8:1. "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."  Shame and condemnation can be constant companions for someone who has been deeply wronged, especially at an early age. They form an identity that says "unworthy" and "dirty". They give birth to thoughts that begin with "You will never..." But those are chains formed by people, and they were broken by the Son of God!

3. We are new creatures. 2 Corinthians 5:17. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." Not only are our sins removed by the blood of Jesus Christ, but we have a new and firm foundation on which to construct the life He now calls us to live. A new vision, a new disposition, new goals, a new family, new life!

4. We have a new purpose. Ephesians 2:10. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." We have the opportunity each day to do something good. We are not here to simply gratify ourselves and go home. We can share the gospel in word and deed each day; we can encourage someone by sharing with them the joy that is in our hearts -- even with just a smile; we can pray for others; we can serve others. We have purpose!

5. We are healed. Isaiah 53:5. "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed." We all have limitations. Some are greater than others; some we're born with; some develop with age; some are physical; some are emotional. If we all waited for perfectly healthy bodies to embrace healing, we'd never be new. We are healed because we walk in Christ -- He supplies our every need. Healing takes place when God enables you to do what He has purposed you to do; not when a doctor says your PET scan is clear or your blood pressure is normal.

6. We are ambassadors for Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:20a. "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us." If someone was going to make a movie of your life, who would you want to play you? The Lord Jesus Christ thinks of us in such a way that He has chosen us as His ambassadors; and our identity in Him enables us to faithfully represent Him. 

So that's a short list to get you started. I would encourage you to continue searching the Scriptures for aspects of your identity in Christ. The things that resonate with me may be different from the things that are most meaningful to you. Allow God to speak to your heart, to reveal to you who He has made you to be, and call yourself by that name. He does!