Raw Faith (part 2): Living according to what God says
You are who God says you are.
Your identity is not defined by the media, a political ideology or by men.
The passage of Psalm 100:3 states the following:
'Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are His people, the sheep of his pasture.'
We were created by God, not by the 'big-bang', not by an accident, not by ourselves through evolution. God created every part of your being, He knows what you are good for, He knows what you can do and handle based on the way He created you. For this reason, He is also the one who can best tell you about your identity and your purpose on Earth.
Let me make an analogy:
When you buy a microwave in a store,as soon as you go home with it, you will surely unbox it along with an instruction manual. The instruction manual is the guideline written by the inventor or manufacturer of the microwave. In the guidelines, you will find information on how to use the microwave, where to use it and what NOT to do with it.
The instruction manual is designed so that the user may maximize the use of the microwave and avoid damaging it. Think of it for a second, if the microwave user decides to place the microwave in a bathtub full of water, he/she will definitely damage it.
Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 wrote:
'For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!'
Based on the above passage, your identity is in Christ.
I like the fact that Paul wrote: 'So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view'. One of the reasons why many are confused about their identity is because they see themselves through the lens of the world. Therefore, whenever they need answers about who they are and what they are supposed to do on earth, they consult the lenses of the world. Those worldly lenses can be found in theories, popular media, and bad advice, among other things. Those confused people listen to advice that says: 'follow your guts'.
Jesus never said 'follow your guts'. He said 'follow Me'. You can not find the truth about your identity in your guts.
Why is it important to get info on your identity straight from God?
In the Book of Judges 6, the angel of the Lord calls a man named Gideon to become a leader of Israel. Interestingly, the angel of the Lord calls Gideon 'Mighty warrior' (reference Judges 6:12). In response to such calling, Gideon complained about the small size of his clan.This proves that Gideon had a worldview about himself and he could not see himself as an agent of change. Therefore, it was necessary that he heard the words 'Mighty warrior' pointed at him.
God is your manufacturer and He is the one who will tell you who you are. He said in Jeremiah 33:3 : 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ If you ask God, He will tell you.
Gideon was called a 'Mighty Warrior' because his life would involve great actions of revival in Israel and wars against enemies. Your identity determines what you will do on Earth.
How God calls you, also impacts on what you will do. A good example is illustrated in Matthew 4:18-20 where Jesus called Peter and Andrew by telling them that they would be 'fisher of men', and of course they became fisher of men.
Now, more than ever before, the world needs Christian heroes. But those heroes first need to know their identity in Christ before embarking on their mission.
With all the problems we are experiencing now, it is time that Christians understand their identity and their role. It is time they live their identity.
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We cannot afford to be and to do things that are not in line with what God says about us.
You live in faith when you live according to what God says to you (Romans 10:17, James 2:26)