Our New Identity
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.
Romans 8:16–17
We give our lives to Christ and receive the Holy Spirit, we are in the family of God, we live with God’s blessings and promises to those who humbly serve him Self-esteem from a worldly viewpoint is based on our job, money, house, car, education, physical ability, physical appearance, personality, popularity, or associations. Our worldly self-esteem is often supported by our understanding of what others think of us. If someone criticizes us, our self-esteem may be threatened, causing us to respond with defensive behavior. How can we minister to the world if we have a defensive attitude? Instead of God’s love being seen in us, anger may be seen instead.
Self-esteem from God is based on how he sees us. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Romans 8:16–17) We are in God’s family and that his love for us is more than we could ever imagine. He fills us with his Spirit and calls us his children.
With our identities given as children of God, the Creator of all things, our self-esteem is very high. Our self-esteem comes through Christ, and the higher our self-esteem, the more humble we become. There is no higher self-esteem than that provided by Christ. Our identity in Christ gives us security in who we are. There is nothing and no one in this world that can threaten our identity.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Meditate on what it means to be a new creation and born of God. We go from being a lost sinner to having all our sins forgiven, being filled with the person of the Holy Spirit, and having a personal loving relationship with God. We live in God’s family, during both this life and the eternal life. This is a blessing beyond words, and most of the world’s population remains lost, living without God, in both this life and the eternal life But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9) We may not feel like a royal priest or God’s special possession, but we are, it’ not based on feelings it’s based on God’s truth. Tell yourself often who you in Christ and learn that God’s truth is stronger than our feelings.
Today remember that you are born of God, live in God’s family, and are a holy person, and a priest. Your God-given identity is related to your divine purpose; you are a priest in partnership with Christ to redeem this lost world into God’s family. Remember who you are in Christ, and let it give you peace and joy with a heart of love.
Prayer: Lord, help me to remember who I am in Christ so I can stand tall and confident and relate to everyone with your wisdom and love. Thank you for my new identity and the self-esteem that comes from it, which instills in me a thankful, humble heart. In Jesus name, Amen