13 May Why Should I? (Learning to see yourself as God sees you) Gal. 3:11

From the beginning of time, it’s always been an identity issue!  Travel all the way back to the Garden of Eden and you’ll find Satan tempting Adam and Eve with this very issue.  “For God doth know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as gods, knowing both good and evil” (Gen. 3:5).  The problem was…they already were!  The Bible tells us that God created man in His image and likeness (see Gen. 1:26).  That is the typical tactic of our enemy…he tries to get you to become something you already are.  That will only frustrate you.  You see, it’s an identity issue!

In John 1:19-23, you find the religious people around questioning John the Baptist.  This time they asked him, “Who are you?”  You see, it’s an identity issue!  Even in the life of Jesus before our Lord’s “face off” with the devil, the Heavenly Father spoke to Jesus and said, “This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17).  What was God the Father doing…reinforcing Jesus’ identity!  Immediately Jesus went into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil and what did he start all of his temptations with… “If thou be the Son of God…”.

Once again, identity, identity, identity!  In this country we have an identity crisis!  That’s why we take on other’s identities.  “He’s wearing a Calvin Klein or a George Armani.”  “She’s wearing a Versache”.  From man’s beginning through Jesus’ ministry, to present chronology…it’s an identity issue.

If we are going to be secure in who we are, we must see ourselves as God sees us!  The Bible tells us, “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God it is evident, for the just shall live by faith” (Gal. 3:11).  One day as I was reading this verse, that phrase “in the sight of God” leaped off the pages and into my heart, and I realized how important it is to see myself how God sees me.

Next week, we’ll continue our series!