Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. Matthew 7:26-27 NIV
What our life becomes is a direct result of our identity. We try to build our own identities, and we choose frail and faulty foundations. We try to build on success, approval, image, and achievements. We attempt to get enough knowledge, experience, and ability to craft an identity that will last and bring us recognition and satisfaction.
But the problem is, the more we try to build on those foundations, the more fragile our identity becomes. The storms of life are certain, and when the storms of performance, proof, comparison, and pretense blow through our lives, the fragile “identity house” we have built crashes. The foundation cannot manage the weight. When we build our identity on our own efforts, we often fall prey to fear, pride, or insecurity. All of these are fragile and easily broken by difficult circumstances.
True identity, the identity that lasts and causes us to thrive, is not built on achievements, appearances, or other’s opinions. In fact, true identity is not built at all. It is received. Your identity in Christ is a gift received through grace, not a status achieved through performance. It is anchored in your creation by God and His love for you. Paul reminds us, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” – Ephesians 2:10 NLT
You are defined by whose you are, not what you do. We are God’s masterpiece, and we don’t work FOR approval and acceptance; we work FROM it. We have the almost incomprehensible privilege of working with God in His mission He planned so long ago. A life working in cooperation with God is invincible in the storms of life. Your worth does not rise or fall with your daily performance. Because identity is received, you can rest secure, knowing you never have to prove yourself to God. Because your identity is a unique gift from God, you are freed from the trap of comparing your success or failures against others. Your past mistakes or family history do not dictate your future. Your identity is as a masterpiece of God’s creation. That foundation will not fail.
- Father, make me aware of any area of my life where I am striving to “be somebody.” Remind me of my true identity: “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!” – 1 John 3:1 NLT