How To Discover Your True Identity, Part 2
In our last discussion, we began taking a look at this man called Jacob; how in one moment of desperation, he was willing to risk being real and authentic. Let's recall the question God asked him which started Jacob on this journey towards a realisation of his true identity.
[The Man] asked him, What is your name? And [in shock of realization, whispering] he said, Jacob [supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler]! And He said, Your name shall be called no more Jacob [supplanter], but Israel [contender with God]; for you have contended and have power with God and with men and have prevailed. Genesis 32: 27- 28, Amplified.
'What is your name?' That was the question Jacob answered. He admitted that, as far as he knew, he was jacob - supplanter, schemer, trickster. Jacob had had his own way all his life. His uncle, Laban, tried outsmarting him, but learnt the hard way that this guy is a long-practiced schemer. But now, we see him, humble, contrite, vulnerable as he openly admits the wrongs he had done.
But here is what is so interesting. While Jacob saw himself only as a trickster, God saw him as a prince, a prince with God. "Your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel", God told him.
Amazing. God doesn't see people as we see them. God doesn't categorize and label individuals based on skin color, height, weight, economics etc. He sees something right inside your innermost being that no one else sees or is willing to admit.
Jacob might have been kneeling down there broken, contrite and perhaps even hating himself, in sudden realization of how ugly his life had been. But all along, the person God sees isn't Jacob, the cheat, the supplanter; but God saw Isael, a prince with God and man. That teaches me something: it isn't just the name others are calling me that is important. The name I have been calling myself ( in my thoughts, comments, attitude etc) is more important. But even much more important is the name God has given me.
God's name for us is gloriously defining. Yes, it is in Christ that we find out who we are; what our true identity really is. You know, we may have messed things up so bad like Jacob did, perhaps, so bad that we have come to be defined by our wrong deeds. But when we are open and authentic enough, like Jacob, to admit where we are at, God is ever willing to embrace us with love and a new name written over us.
"Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins." 2Corinthians 5: 16- 18, Message.
God gave Jacob a fresh new start, by helping him re-discover his true identity. Isn't that always like God? Ever loving and forgiving. It's time to look inside and see the new person that we have become, or could become, through our union with Christ. I think God delights in welcoming us home to himself, forgiving, blessing us, helping us understand who we truly are. So, will you come home like Jacob did? Will you kneel in honest prayer before God and say, " I am sorry, I have lived like Jacob"? I feel like taking a moment right now to talk with God about this? Will you be willing to do the same?
I am going to end this by reminding you ( and myself of course) who or what God says we are. God has a new name for you. God calls you:
Friend - John 15: 13-14
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you
Accepted - John 1: 5
Beloved - John 1: 5
Forgiven - I John 1: 8-9
New Creation - 2 Corinthians 5: 16 -21
Blessed - Ephesians 1: 1-3
I want to ask you to refuse to accept any other definition of you. Our culture will do it's best to label you 'black', 'white', 'hispanic', 'short', 'tall', 'fat' or 'thin', 'poor', 'wealthy' etc. But we have to remember all those are not who we are...those are futile attempts by others to define and categorize you. We are God's offsprings, new creation in Christ Jesus.
If any of these writings bless you, feel free to post a comment or share a testimony with us. Others may be blessed by your testimony or comment. And feel free to contact us anytime. My genuine desire is to assist you in your search for meaning and joy.
In our last discussion, we began taking a look at this man called Jacob; how in one moment of desperation, he was willing to risk being real and authentic. Let's recall the question God asked him which started Jacob on this journey towards a realisation of his true identity.
[The Man] asked him, What is your name? And [in shock of realization, whispering] he said, Jacob [supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler]! And He said, Your name shall be called no more Jacob [supplanter], but Israel [contender with God]; for you have contended and have power with God and with men and have prevailed. Genesis 32: 27- 28, Amplified.
'What is your name?' That was the question Jacob answered. He admitted that, as far as he knew, he was jacob - supplanter, schemer, trickster. Jacob had had his own way all his life. His uncle, Laban, tried outsmarting him, but learnt the hard way that this guy is a long-practiced schemer. But now, we see him, humble, contrite, vulnerable as he openly admits the wrongs he had done.
But here is what is so interesting. While Jacob saw himself only as a trickster, God saw him as a prince, a prince with God. "Your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel", God told him.
Amazing. God doesn't see people as we see them. God doesn't categorize and label individuals based on skin color, height, weight, economics etc. He sees something right inside your innermost being that no one else sees or is willing to admit.
Jacob might have been kneeling down there broken, contrite and perhaps even hating himself, in sudden realization of how ugly his life had been. But all along, the person God sees isn't Jacob, the cheat, the supplanter; but God saw Isael, a prince with God and man. That teaches me something: it isn't just the name others are calling me that is important. The name I have been calling myself ( in my thoughts, comments, attitude etc) is more important. But even much more important is the name God has given me.
God's name for us is gloriously defining. Yes, it is in Christ that we find out who we are; what our true identity really is. You know, we may have messed things up so bad like Jacob did, perhaps, so bad that we have come to be defined by our wrong deeds. But when we are open and authentic enough, like Jacob, to admit where we are at, God is ever willing to embrace us with love and a new name written over us.
"Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins." 2Corinthians 5: 16- 18, Message.
God gave Jacob a fresh new start, by helping him re-discover his true identity. Isn't that always like God? Ever loving and forgiving. It's time to look inside and see the new person that we have become, or could become, through our union with Christ. I think God delights in welcoming us home to himself, forgiving, blessing us, helping us understand who we truly are. So, will you come home like Jacob did? Will you kneel in honest prayer before God and say, " I am sorry, I have lived like Jacob"? I feel like taking a moment right now to talk with God about this? Will you be willing to do the same?
I am going to end this by reminding you ( and myself of course) who or what God says we are. God has a new name for you. God calls you:
Friend - John 15: 13-14
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you
Accepted - John 1: 5
Beloved - John 1: 5
Forgiven - I John 1: 8-9
New Creation - 2 Corinthians 5: 16 -21
Blessed - Ephesians 1: 1-3
I want to ask you to refuse to accept any other definition of you. Our culture will do it's best to label you 'black', 'white', 'hispanic', 'short', 'tall', 'fat' or 'thin', 'poor', 'wealthy' etc. But we have to remember all those are not who we are...those are futile attempts by others to define and categorize you. We are God's offsprings, new creation in Christ Jesus.
If any of these writings bless you, feel free to post a comment or share a testimony with us. Others may be blessed by your testimony or comment. And feel free to contact us anytime. My genuine desire is to assist you in your search for meaning and joy.
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