WDYB about who you are

Within The Struggle: What Do You Believe About Who You Are?

By Gracie

By The Grace Of God M/M

"So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven's lights. Unlike them, he never changes or casts shifting shadows. In his goodness he chose to make us his own children by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his choice possession." James 2:16-18

"And we, out of all creation, became his choice possession"! WOW! Do you have grasp of that reality? I know that I don’t always remember who I am in Christ. Yet, I do have glimpses of how vitally important it is that I know and grow in this knowledge. It has the power to break every chain of wrong self image, self importance and self denigration! It can enable us to see ourselves as we really are and yet put into view the balancing truth that we are fearfully & wonderfully made! Psalm 139:14 "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."

This is not some kind of hyped up re-imaging, say-this-to-yourself-a-million-times, so-you-can-believe-it, kind of knowledge. This is about knowing who God is and who you are in light of Him that you know. We cannot begin to have a balanced perspective on who we are, unless we are in process of knowing who He is. And as we grow in knowledge of who He is, we begin to reflect the truth of who we are. We gain the right balance between the reality of being sinful humans & the positional truth of standing perfected before Christ. How we view ourselves is in direct proportion to how we see and know Him. 1 Corinthians 13:12 "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."

So often we have self-flagellating mentalities, we beat ourselves up thinking that we need to scourge ourselves to prove we are worthy. We walk around with downcast eyes and hearts, with no expressions of real joy, as if that proves our humility, our worthiness. Yet the harsh truth will always be that no matter what we do or don’t do, we will never be worthy of God’s mercy. BUT! God doesn’t leave us alone with only that truth, He goes to a deeper truth! One that puts balance in our perspective and strength in our walk. Inspite the above being the truth for each of us, He tells us that as born-again believers, we are His choice possession, a chosen generation, a holy priesthood, a holy nation & we belong to Him!!! 1 Peter 2:9-10 "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." You, out of all creation were chosen to be His, period!

Not only does that thought humble me, crashing my heart & knees to the floor, but at the same time, it makes me stand up boldly & in confidence, setting my face set like flint on Him! I don’t stand up because I have any value, or redeeming qualities, for I am a sinner. I stand up because, I realize, I have become convinced, and I take God at His word about me...that I am noticed, valued and loved by the Living God! And that is what gives me value! And that is what gives you value! It redeems my soul, humbles my pride, strengthens my weakness and fuels a fierce, passionate, grateful love for Him! What does knowing who you are in Christ, do for you?