Who do you find your identity in?
“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 CSB
If someone asked me the question about who I find my identity in, my immediate response would be Jesus. And I’m sure yours would be as well. If you are like me, it just seems like the natural response when you are a believer and follower of Jesus. Especially if you have grown up in the church as I have, it’s easy to gloss over Bible verses with only head knowledge.
There are a plethora of avenues in our culture today all screaming to define our identities. They tell us that we have to do more, be more, go here, do this, buy this, follow this… the list could go on and on. And even a girl that loves Jesus can be swayed by the loud voices that fight for her attention. This is something I have struggled with for many years.
Which is why I ask you the question, “Who do you find your identity in?”
Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
For so long, I missed what this verse was really telling me. I thought I had to do so much to live a life worthy of His grace. I tried to “crucify” the flesh by trying to do all the right things. When I would fail and mess up, then I would get so tangled up in the chains of guilt. Do you ever find yourself there?
Galatians 2:20 is really speaking about our identity. If you are a believer of Jesus, then your identity is secured in Jesus and nothing or no one else. We don’t have to strive to live a perfect life – we just have to surrender to Jesus. Jesus paid the ultimate price to switch our identity from enemy of God to adopted children of God – all because of His great love for us. Oh, friend - what amazing love God has for us!
Not only did I miss how this verse spoke to my identity in Jesus, I also misunderstood what it looked like to have been crucified with Christ. Can you relate?
Just like we go to the doctor when we are sick and the doctor gives us medicine to make us well, God’s word has everything in it to live a victorious Christian life –a life that is crucified in Christ. God is our great physician, and when we align our thoughts with His and allow those thoughts to manifest in our choices and actions, then we are living out Galatians 2:20. But in order for us to do so, we need to get into His word and allow His word to seep into us. Only then will we be able to shut out the voices that try to convince us that our identity is found in anyone or anything other than Jesus Christ Himself.
Dear God,
Thank you for sending your Son Jesus for me. Your grace astounds me. When we were your enemy, you still chose to send Jesus out of your great love for humanity. Thank you for convicting me when I start listening to the wrong voices about my identity. Thank you for showing me that I don’t have to prove myself to you. I just have to surrender and allow you to work in my life. Draw me closer to you and give me a hunger for your word. You have everything I need. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Dig Deeper:
“For freedom Christ set us free, Stand firm then and don’t submit again to the yoke of slavery.”
Galatians 5:1 CSB