Sunday Morning Podcast Oct 14, 2018. Bro. Richard Lehman.
TEXT: GALATIANS 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Paul gave a description in a nutshell, of who he was, in this verse. We all have something about us that describes who we really are, that will guide what we do and how successful we will be. “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: “ Individuals form identities about themselves. We all think about who we are, how we got here, and etc. We think about the perceived “present,” and what our future holds. A reconstructed past, and certain things in life, can challenge our identity, …the very sense of who we are. We also evaluate who we are, ..where we are. What is it all about …for me? The “what” of the importance, and the significance. This is true for the saved, as well as the unsaved. Paul went through a major identity crisis when Jesus, from heaven, “arrested” him on the road to Damascus. “And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined around about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Acts 9:3,4 Prior, Paul (then called Saul), had a certain “view” of himself. Quite an important religious figure! But Christ had now stopped it all.
The only way we “find” our personal identity, is when God challenges us …right where we are at. Otherwise we struggle with it, thinking in error of who and where we are. It is necessary that we go through an identity crisis of who and where we are, …breaking away from our “self” identity, no longer letting it be about us. There are many all around us in this world. We need to ask God to help us to interact with those without Jesus, that are looking for their identity. But there has to be an identity change! Breaking away from our self, so we can apply ourselves to the needs of others.
If you don’t know Jesus, you don’t have the answers to those questions about your identity …who you are. If you do know Jesus, but become distracted, you need to return your attention back to Him. Your identity is your story. If your story is not of Jesus’s life within you, He wants to re write your story so He is your personal identity. How long will you hold on to your own identity? You need to connect in a deeper way to Jesus! Where, What, and Who are You?
Your Personal Identity.