"Given Identity"

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

What do people think of me? This is a question that is pretty hard to avoid, because every morning we start our day by making ourselves presentable to the world. We are constantly comparing ourselves to other people's lives, bodies, possessions, and status. Our value and worth is placed in our monetary success or our education that allows us to think, if not say, well, at least I'm not like _______. All of us can fill in this blank, and we do everyday.However, this is not the life God desired for us. Before the fall, life was all about communion with God in harmony with the earth and each other. However, as Adam and Eve turned from God, life made a nasty shift from concern about God to obsession with self, which resulted in our alienation and death. But, Christ came and died for us! We have been crucified with Christ. God has given us our new identities as children of God through Baptism. In this, He forgave our rebellion against Him and turned us back to real life in Him. Our worth is not found in our relation to others and our personal success or failure, but rather in our relationship to God.As Christians, we know that living in a fallen world produces a constant temptation to turn from God back to ourselves. The Holy Spirit brings daily forgiveness through God's Word when our flesh is weak. He empowers us to live as believing and forgiven people, so that others would also learn of their true identity in God through His work in us. God uniquely uses each one of us as the world sees Christ in our given identity!

THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, during this Lenten season crucify the mistaken identity that we have created for ourselves, and turn us back to our true identity in You. Forgive us daily and empower us by the Holy Spirit to live as Your children to others. Work through us and show the world our transformed lives, even as You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Written by Pastor Daniel PrughFirst Lutheran Church - Gainesville, Florida