How To Discover Your True Identity, Part 2
In our last discussion, we began taking a look at this man
called Jacob; how in one moment of desperation, he was willing
to risk being real and authentic. Let's recall the question
God asked him which started Jacob on this journey towards a
realisation of his true identity.
[The Man] asked him, What is your name? And [in shock of realization,
whispering] he said, Jacob [supplanter, schemer, trickster,
swindler]! And He said, Your name shall be called no more Jacob
[supplanter], but Israel [contender with God]; for you have
contended and have power with God and with men and have prevailed.
Genesis 32: 27- 28, Amplified.
'What is your name?' That was the question Jacob answered.
He admitted that, as far as he knew, he was jacob - supplanter,
schemer, trickster. Jacob had had his own way all his life.
His uncle, Laban, tried outsmarting him, but learnt the hard
way that this guy is a long-practiced schemer. But now, we see
him, humble, contrite, vulnerable as he openly admits the wrongs
he had done.
But here is what is so interesting. While Jacob saw himself
only as a trickster, God saw him as a prince, a prince with
God. "Your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel",
God told him.
Amazing. God doesn't see people as we see them. God doesn't
categorize and label individuals based on skin color, height,
weight, economics etc. He sees something right inside your innermost
being that no one else sees or is willing to admit.
Jacob might have been kneeling down there broken, contrite
and perhaps even hating himself, in sudden realization of how
ugly his life had been. But all along, the person God sees isn't
Jacob, the cheat, the supplanter; but God saw Isael, a prince
with God and man. That teaches me something: it isn't just the
name others are calling me that is important. The name I have
been calling myself ( in my thoughts, comments, attitude etc)
is more important. But even much more important is the name
God has given me.
God's name for us is gloriously defining. Yes, it is in Christ
that we find out who we are; what our true identity really is.
You know, we may have messed things up so bad like Jacob did,
perhaps, so bad that we have come to be defined by our wrong
deeds. But when we are open and authentic enough, like Jacob,
to admit where we are at, God is ever willing to embrace us
with love and a new name written over us.
"Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by
what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that
way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't
look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we
see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start,
is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look
at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship
between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships
with each other. God put the world square with himself through
the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness
of sins." 2Corinthians 5: 16- 18, Message.
God gave Jacob a fresh new start, by helping him re-discover
his true identity. Isn't that always like God? Ever loving and
forgiving. It's time to look inside and see the new person that
we have become, or could become, through our union with Christ.
I think God delights in welcoming us home to himself, forgiving,
blessing us, helping us understand who we truly are. So, will
you come home like Jacob did? Will you kneel in honest prayer
before God and say, " I am sorry, I have lived like Jacob"?
I feel like taking a moment right now to talk with God about
this? Will you be willing to do the same?
I am going to end this by reminding you ( and myself of course)
who or what God says we are. God has a new name for you. God
calls you:
Friend - John 15: 13-14
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down
his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever
I command you
Accepted - John 1: 5
Beloved - John 1: 5
Forgiven - I John 1: 8-9
New Creation - 2 Corinthians 5: 16 -21
Blessed - Ephesians 1: 1-3
I want to ask you to refuse to accept any other definition
of you. Our culture will do it's best to label you 'black',
'white', 'hispanic', 'short', 'tall', 'fat' or 'thin', 'poor',
'wealthy' etc. But we have to remember all those are not who
we are...those are futile attempts by others to define and categorize
you. We are God's offsprings, new creation in Christ Jesus.
If any of these writings bless you, feel free to post
a comment or share a testimony with us. Others may be blessed
by your testimony or comment. And feel free to contact us anytime.
My genuine desire is to assist you in your search for meaning
and joy.
Visit DiscoverPurpose
blog for more.
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