Identity

This week in our small groups we talked about identity.
What defines us?
Who determines our worth?
Where do we find our value?
Identity is such a powerful thing, especially in the life of a teenager. After a dozen years of being defined primarily by their relationship with their family, teenagers begin to seek their own identity.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of voices out there trying to tell us what our identity should be. Listen to this music. Wear these clothes. Talk a certain way. Get drunk. Lie to your parents. Have sex. Be disrespectful. The list goes on and on.
But there is only one place to find our true identity. It’s the one the Creator intended for us. Jesus said the following:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” (John 15:1-4)
So what kind of fruit is that? What kind of fruit is Jesus wanting us to bear? Maybe it’s the fruit that Paul wrote about in his letter to the Galatian church:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
Our true identity is not determined by what we wear or drive. It can’t be measured by where we live or how popular we are.
Our true identity is determined by what kind of person we are. Notice that we are called human beings, not human doings. What are we today and what are we becoming? That is the question that counts.
In a world that so often measures us on the outside, we have a Creator God that uses a different method. When looking for a king to lead Israel, the Lord told Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
When we can start worrying more about who we are on the inside instead of the outside, we will begin to make room for God to transform us. Then he can reveal to us our true identity and we can experience the peace that only comes from knowing Him.

shine!
Jason