You’re too fat, too skinny, not smart enough, not qualified, not enough experience, too old, too young, not pretty enough, you need work more hours, get more money, a bigger house, newer car, all of these are lies that the world would have us to believe about ourselves and in many, if not all cases this leads to low self-esteem, insecurity, depression, anxiety, insomnia, self-medication you name it. As Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges point out in their book Lead Like Jesus, these fears and insecurities in our lives ALWAYS separates man from God, ALWAYS compares with others and is never happy, ALWAYS distorts the truth into a false sense of security or fear. The world as a whole is diametrically opposed to Jesus Christ and as a result the enemy within the world creates ideologies and philosophies to do any and everything it can to ensure all focus is off of God. As the Apostle John writes in his first epistle, “For all that is in the world-the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions-is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” I John 2:16-17 ESV John is pointing out that the things of the world are not from God and are therefore evil. In this same light, James, that half-brother of Jesus says, “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4 ESV
To say that it’s impossible to be friends with the world and serve God is an understatement. Is it any wonder then that the world and the evil within it is so bent on distracting people from maintaining any sort of focus on God? Those attacks on the human psyche are one of the most prevalent methods used by Satan, because not only is it difficult to overcome, but it’s difficult to discern that it is an external attack and not something internal or self-derived. Blanchard and Hodges state, “If Satan had a formula for self-worth he would love you to buy into, it would be SELF-WORTH = PERFORMANCE + the OPINION OF OTHERS.” Think about this equation, we all have good days and bad days which impacts our performance, while the opinions of others vary like the weather. How can anyone rely on such a formula to determine their self worth? Is it any wonder there are so many insecurities and fears? These fears and insecurities are a complete anti-God state of mind.
As Christians we cannot allow ourselves to be defined by anything other than our identity in Christ. In his book Victory Over the Darkness, Neil Anderson points out, “The only identity equation that works in God’s Kingdom is YOU + CHRIST = WHOLENESS and MEANING.” Jesus, in talking to Pilate at His trial defines His kingdom and its separation from the world, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” John 18:36 ESV It’s so critical to see the separation from the world for all those that follow Christ and within this separation lies our identity and self-worth. Instead of listening to the world’s definition of who you are or who you should be, consider the following verses on your identity in Christ:
You are a child of God – “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” John 1:12 ESV
You are a friend of God – “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15 ESV
You are united with the Lord and are one in Spirit – But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. I Corinthians 6:17 ESV
You are assured that ALL things work together for good – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 ESV
You cannot be separated from the love of God – “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39
You are born of God and the evil one cannot touch you – “We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.” I John 5:18 ESV
You are God’s temple – “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” I Corinthians 3:16 ESV
You can do all things through Christ – “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 ESV
Don’t let the world’s lies confuse you and attempt to dilute who you are in Christ because you have the confidence that God will complete His good work in you, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6 ESV
