Daily devotion. – The search for identity.
My Identity
I want to address again the issue of identity. It remains one of the great struggles of our modern world, and our young people in particular are surrounded by mixed messages about who they are, what they should become, and where they belong. Simply growing up and dealing with hormones, temptations, and the eruptions of our sinful nature is challenging enough. Add questions about gender, culture, the future of the world, and life itself, and many young hearts feel deeply unsettled.
That is why Christian parents carry a tremendous responsibility. While our children are still in our homes and under our care, we must nurture them in the grace, love, truth, and wonder of our Lord Jesus Christ. The home should be the place where identity is anchored in God’s Word rather than in the shifting opinions of the world.
We see a powerful example of this in the children of Israel. Having been delivered from Egypt, they camped at Mount Sinai, where God was about to give them His law. Before He gave the commandments, He reminded them of what He had already done for them. God anchored them to their history with Him and gave them their identity as His chosen people.
Exodus 19:4–6
“Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people… And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.”
The message was clear: Remember where you were, remember what I have done, and remember that you belong to Me. Their identity was not self-created; it was given by God.
The people responded sincerely, but the law also exposed a painful reality—the weakness of the human heart.
Deuteronomy 5:29
“O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!”
Later, the apostle Paul explained why the law was given.
Romans 3:19
“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”
Galatians 3:24
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
The law came first, but it pointed beyond itself to Jesus Christ. Under the New Covenant, our identity is no longer found in our performance, our successes, our failures, or the labels the world places upon us. Our identity is found in Christ.
Because of His death and resurrection, we have become new creations. We are children of God, members of His family, citizens of His kingdom, and recipients of His grace. The most important thing about us is not what we have done, but what Jesus has done for us.
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
So my identity is really very simple: I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and He is my Lord and Saviour. My life revolves around Him. In Him I find purpose, security, forgiveness, and hope.
Acts 17:28
“For in him we live, and move, and have our being.”
In a world confused about identity, the believer can stand with confidence and say, “I belong to Jesus.” That is the truest and safest identity anyone can ever possess.