Be aware and cautious because there are people out to steal your identity. Not the kind of people who are interested in making money off of you but people who simply want to rob you of who you are in Jesus. Unfortunately many young and tired Christians fall victim to these people because they easily forget or perhaps they weren't totally convinced. That's the point I am stuck on these days: people are not totally convinced of who they are in Jesus. Not being convinced means you can be persuaded otherwise.
These identity thieves come in various forms. They love using labels, fitting you into a box that refuses to allow you to grow. That's not saying that you are actually in that box because no one can stop you from growing but in their imaging of you that is where you are. There are also those who refuse to let go of your past. They constantly bring things up that you did, keeping you down and causing you to think of yourself as they see you. But that's no longer who you are. You are so much more than what you were years ago; what you were before you met Jesus.
Now there's the point, you are not what once you were. You are no longer who you were before you met Jesus. As soon as you met Jesus everything changed; you changed. Consider the language that the Scriptures use:
- a new creation
- new garments replacing the old
- the old is gone and the new has come
- a second birth
Get the idea? So understand that what God has done no one can undo. Even if you fall victim to their words it is only a perception thing. The truth of it hasn't changed. Just because someone labels you does not mean that their label has any affect on the work that God has done. They can call you every name in the book but it doesn't make it so. Come on, get on board with me here. It doesn't matter what anyone else calls you when God calls you his child. He has called you innocent. He has called you perfection. He has said that you are his workmanship. He has named you and marked you. And he has given you the Spirit as a deposit to guarantee what is coming. Get this:
"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." - Romans 8:16
We are not illegitimate children. Our Father has not given us birth and then abandoned us. He is constantly with us, guiding, encouraging and reminding us who we are. Sometimes we allow other voices to interfer but they can't steal our identity. They can not change who we are. If we let them they can distract us and even disturb us but they can't change us. We are the children of our Father:
"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father'." - Romans 8:15
You need to keep in mind that people are going to do everything they can to squeeze you into the image they want you to fit into. Don't worry about these people but instead listen to the Spirit and the only thing they will see in you is Jesus. You see, the Spirit is more than just a deposit guaranteeing what is to come. He represents the power of God in us. He also conveys what we cannot even find the words to convey. As children we have the privilege of being able to take everything to Dad but sometimes we don't even know how to express it. Don't worry, the Spirit has that covered too:
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." Romans 8:26
When you find yourself in a situation where people are trying to steal your identity from you and you don't even know what to pray, trust that our Daddy knows exactly what you need. He will strengthen you, encourage you and deliver you because of his unfailing love. He doesn't love you because you deserve it or because you merit it. You are his child and he loves you because he decided to. He loves you with his unfailing love and because he does you are going to want to live a life that honours him. Consider this:
"Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." - Romans 8:5
People are going to try to throw you off your game. They are going to try to get you to act against your new nature. They will try to undermine your relationship with God. But you have the Spirit of God and all you have to do is follow his lead. Don't get distracted and don't forget who you are. Listen and be who your Father says you are. He says you are his child so be that child for his glory.
Don't ever forget who you are and whose you are.
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