Sabbatical Day 44

Self-worth and self-confidence are big issues in today's culture. Employers look for those who exude a manner of self confidence, knowing themselves and their abilities. Self confidence also means understanding our inabilities or weaknesses. Equally from this knowledge we can then present ourselves with accurate understanding of what we can or cannot do and how we can help any organization or system function.

Many would call this our identity. Our personalities, roles, relationships can all play a part of our identity. For example, I am Dennis's wife... Josh, Amy, Lauren and Charlie's mom...seamstress....homemaker....service program director.... The list can go on to the extent that I understand my abilities. However, all of roles and abilities are temporary if you believe in the eternal.

Incredibly, these roles play out in such huge ways in our lives that we rarely look deeper to find our true identity. We have little time or energy to give to the adventure of discovery of who we are in Christ. Instead we settle for the temporary identity rather than our eternal one that is crying to be known.

This morning I settled into John 8. Here we find Jesus constantly under the scrutiny of the pharisees. Their drilling of Jesus to prove His identity was never ending. They badgered him with questions, judged his actions and debated the testimony of His identity as the Son of God. Their condemning words and threats of stoning did not steal the truth of who Jesus was. He was secure in the Father. The Father loved Him and He equally loved the Father, bringing the Father glory in all He did. Not once do we see Jesus toying with the lies. On the contrary, His security in the Father would not even allow the lies to take root in His heart.

We are loved by the God of the universe. The best place to grow our security is in the truth of how God loves us and sees us. If we can begin to recognize the new life He wants to give us, I believe we will want it more than any temporary ability, stength, or role that we may have here on this earth. But when we receive His fulfilling love that no one can take away, we will glady give ourselves to serving this world in order that others may know His love.

So who am I...really? How do I want to be known? Who's image do I want the world to see...My false image, or the image God has created? If I take down the false image mask, what will I find? What does God see right now? It is time to listen to the One who knows what He has always dreamed of and hoped for me.