New Identity

 

New Identity

Philippians 3 ⁴ I could, of course, put my trust in such things. If any of you think you can trust in external ceremonies, I have even more reason to feel that way. ⁵ I was circumcised when I was a week old. I am an Israelite by birth, of the tribe of Benjamin, a pure-blooded Hebrew. As far as keeping the Jewish Law is concerned, I was a Pharisee, ⁶ and I was so zealous that I persecuted the church. As far as a person can be righteous by obeying the commands of the Law, I was without fault. ⁷ But all those things that I might count as profit I now reckon as loss for Christ's sake. 

 

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Being ridiculed, I did not want to be seen or known. But after being recognized for positive achievements, I craved more accolades. The more “I” achieved, the higher “I” went. Soon my entire identity was wrapped in ”my” title.

 

• My thoughts were only on my title.
• My plans centered around my title.
• My conversations, lack of sleep, decisions and time were based on my title.

 

Paul sounded harsh on those who pushed the need to be circumcised as an implied closeness to GOD. This male oriented action was debunked by Paul as he admitted his own faults. He was extremely zealous for following the scripture but lacked its true meaning, namely CHRIST.

 

My Observations

• When GOD made me, HE said “Very good.”
• My identity is made whole by pointing all lives to CHRIST.
• Only CHRIST deserves the attention and my achievements mean nothing.

 

Having a title or lineage or popularity is not bad unless I place it over what GOD wants for me. I mean, GOD gives me free will to choose HIM or “me.” When I choose “me” I get the spotlight, the accolades and “my” name is mentioned more than HIS.

 

Fortunately GOD understands this and HE gently guides me back to a place of true peace. HE opens my eyes to the need for CHRIST to have the honor of the spotlight. My achievements, accomplishments and accolades mean nothing in comparison to JESUS. I look at the immense time I have wasted as loss and I am grateful GOD hs given me a chance to speak about HIM now.

 

Challenge

• Can you sense regret from the writer?
• Have you ever wanted the attention, maybe even in a passive way?
• What do you cry out to GOD for?
• Will you seek a new identity by placing JESUS over every aspiration in your life today?

Meeting Expectations

Luke 3: ¹⁵ Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, ¹⁶ John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

¹⁸ And with many other exhortations he preached to the people. ¹⁹ But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, ²⁰ also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.

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Nervously I opened my mouth and told a person about my belief in CHRIST. I could not tell if he was joking or not about his thought on GOD’s existence but I was moved to say something at the lunchroom table.

When the words came out, I felt better and did not care as much whether I would be labeled as weird. This was my first time speaking about GOD to someone outside of my comfort zone.

• There were times when I wanted to just blend into the crowd.
• There were times when I wanted to simply be like everyone else.
• There were times when I wanted to meet the crowd’s expectation of me and fit in like the rest.

The people set expectations on John by asking “Who is this guy?” Some said he was The CHRIST, others thought he was a prophet, but all had to listen to him as he spoke candidly about their sins, even royalty. GOD wants me to speak up as well.

• JESUS says to me “I will baptize people with the HOLY SPIRIT and with fire.”
• JESUS says to me “I will gather the wheat you plant in the souls of people I send to you or send you to.”
• JESUS says to me “I will burn up the wasted efforts of those who do not turn to ME.”

Life is short. Everything I do and say will one day be accounted for and it is up to me to listen to the HOLY SPIRIT each day in order to make the best out of life. When I am not selfish and follow what GOD wants me to do, HE counts it as fruit and rewards me generously.

• What are you spending your time on?
• Are you squeezing GOD out of your life to the point that you cannot hear HIM?
• Do you spend enormous amounts of time meeting human’s expectations?
• Can you stop trying to please people and look to pleasing GOD today?

Practice

Mark 14: ³⁷ Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

³⁹ Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. ⁴⁰ And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him.

⁴¹ Then He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴² Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

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“Run!” were the instructions of the track coach. “Do we have to?” was my thought. I mean we had already run miles and miles this very day. One teammate whispered to me “We can hide and pretend we practiced.” “I wonder if I should hide” was my thought.

• Sometimes I do not feel like practicing.
• Sometimes I want things to be handed to me.
• Sometimes I do not want to go through the difficulty of being ready.

JESUS brought Peter, James and John with HIM to pray for HIM as HE was about to face death. Not being used to praying on this magnitude, they fell asleep. They more than likely did not know what JESUS was going through. Even the stern warnings JESUS implored were of no use. Their senses were dull.

• GOD says to me “Do not follow the ways of this world for they distract you from MY kingdom.”
• GOD says to me “All are like sheep that go astray.”
• GOD says to me “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone opens the door, I will come in and sup with them.”

JESUS knows the world will dullen my senses. With a constant barrage of murder, sex and drugs on television, my compassion falls to zero and I cannot hear GOD’s small still voice.

BUT GOD knew this and has taken this into account. HE went to the cross for me anyway. HE knew I could not rescue the world so HE took care of it all. HE raises me up to notice HIS power.

• Are you fretting about something so much that you cannot see or hear GOD?
• Are your senses so dulled that you cannot feel for those who are hurting around you?
• Can you wake up to see GOD is guiding you today?

Am I consistent?

Galatians 4: ¹⁸ It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.

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Lunch was a time we looked forward to.  We would head out with zeal to our favorite grazing areas.  Soon we would think of excuses for taking longer and longer lunches. Our zeal for leisure turned into careful planning. We had developed elaborate games to increase our enjoyment. This required others to tell us when our boss was coming so we could “look” like we were working hard.

“You guys haven’t unloaded that truck yet” my supervisor exclaimed. We thought of some lie to get him off our back then we went back to work. I wonder if they appreciated my work ethic.

• I fail in my character when I am good in front of one group and faulty around another.
• I send mixed messages when I am good sometimes and sneaky other times.
• I misplace my “zeal” when I use it for things that may not be as pleasing to GOD.

My zeal can cause me to act inconsistent. I can want something so bad that I alter my behavior to get what I want even if it is not aligned with GOD. Then I try to “act” good when in reality GOD is watching my every move and knows my faulty plan.

• GOD knows my thoughts so I should control them to focus on HIM.
• GOD knows my actions so I should reduce the things I do wrong and try to focus on what HE wants me to do.
• GOD knows my heart so I should practice placing the right things in it in order to act consistent.

From my appearance to my shallow words I had to “appear” polished as an executive. No matter how bad things were going I had to look as though nothing were wrong. BUT GOD wanted me to act different. HE wants my character. HE wants my consistence. HE wants me to act in the truth.

Character and consistency brings peace to all my actions because I don’t have to remember lies.

• Are you inconsistent with your example of CHRIST?
• Are you one way with some people and different with others?
• Can you become more consistent with your walk with CHRIST?