Identity In Christ

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

When we were kids, we wanted to be in the “in” group. After all, the thing we fear more than anything else is to be rejected. But as Christians, we don’t have to live in that same fear of rejection.  

I want you to listen carefully. Because of Jesus, God has accepted us. That means we can’t do anything so bad it would make God love us less nor can we do anything so good it would make God love us more. Because of Jesus, God has accepted us for who we are and then changes us into what we need to be.

In light of this, you must learn to change your perception of self-esteem, so that you can understand the kind of confidence you can have because of Jesus. Self-esteem comes from what God says about you; not how others see you.

Until you see who you are in Jesus, you will never be what God created you to be. That is why you’ve got to realize who you are in Jesus. You’ve got to center your identity in Jesus. If you center your life and your identity on your spouse, or another person, you will be emotionally dependent, jealous, and controlling.

With this in mind, I would encourage you to spend some time in God’s Word this week and remind yourself of who you are in Christ. What does the Bible say about you? What does God say about who you are and how He created you? As you answer these questions, you will begin to see where your identity should be rooted and how to build up a stronger, Christ-centered sense of self-esteem.  

Dear Lord, I want to believe what you say about me more than I believe anything else that anyone says about me. Help me as I root my identity and self-esteem in you. In Jesus’ name, amen.