In a world that is consumed with "Self" [self-worth, self-confidence, self-esteem, self-discipline, self-control, self-you name it], it can be hard to not allow "self" to identify you as a person. It is a battle, and one that will never stop unfortunately.
Let's start with trying to put into perspective what the Bible says about "self". First there are some good things about "self that we need to be about as a follower of Christ. First is, "Self-control". The New Testament uses this term, depending on your translation, 6 -12 times. Each of these times point us as a believer to be "Self-controlled". The Second is mentioned and talked about indirectly, and that is "Self-disciplined". Passages like 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 points us to this attribute or characteristic of a person. To both of these I would say we need to have as part of our life, because the Bible directs us to. I would clarify, though, that neither of these are our Biblical identity as a person that God has saved or redeemed. As soon as we place our identity in being self-controlled or self-disciplined, we have stepped into a position of what is described in 2 Timothy 3:1-5...
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient, to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather, that lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."
I don't know about you, but i certainly don't want those things to be true of me! the scariest part of it all is the last part... "...having a form of godliness but denying its power..." We all should allow God to examine us to check us and see what evil lies with-in us!
This passage points us to what the last days are going to look like. (Looks pretty much like the good ol U.S. of A. to me...we need to pray!) I see verse 7 as being a measuring stick for us... "...always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth." You see the truth is, our identity has very little, or should I say NOTHING, to do with us/SELF! The form of godliness you see mentioned above is that of selfish motive, being self-focused. I can discipline mySELF, I can control mySELF, I can feel good about mySELF because I am worth feeling good about...and the list goes one. the Bible says nothing, to my knowledge, about having good self-esteem, or having a positive self-image, or being self-confident, or even possessing a self-worth of any kind. On the contrary, it teaches we are supposed to not consider ourSELF at all. It points us to the TRUTH that life is all about Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit.
Philippians 2:1-11, along with all the other passages we have looked at for the past 6 weeks, gives us a clear picture of how life is lived and the motive in living...
"If you have any encouragement form being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, is any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father."
Let us humble ourselves in the same manner that Christ Jesus did. He came to be a servant. It was not about Him. It was not about us. It was primarily about God the Father, then secondarily about us.
We as believers need to consider a few things as we think about our Identity. Here they are and may God bless your time with Him!
Am I a person that will accept truth?
What is the purpose of my life?
Whose am I?
Next week we will wrap up our discussions about Identity. You don't want to miss a night that we will tie it all together and learn how to take off the shirts/masks/false identities that we tend to believe rather that the identity that God has made us into.
Love ya, and untill then, may God bless you and your family!
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