Just what is an identity?
When you enroll in classes in college, you become a college student. On your wedding day, you take on a new role as a spouse. When you have a child, you become a parent. Maybe you see your identity as "employed" or "unemployed", "friend" or "loner", "reader" or "musician", "introverted" or "extroverted". We label ourselves and give ourselves identities or the outside world does. Some identities you have no control over. When you're born into a family, you immediately become a daughter or son, and perhaps a sibling.
But here’s the real question I want to get at, what does God say about identity? The Bible tells us God has many identities - Father, Counselor, Lord (Master), Savior, etc. So by telling me who He is, in response He tells me who I am. As I took a walk by myself the other night, I thought of three identities He has given me that really change everything. They tell me that He loves me. They tell me I am taken care of. They tell me I am always at home with Him. They tell me I am never alone. Though I may often forget these things, that does not make these identities untrue. They unfold from His trinitarian nature. Let me explain -
1. Because God is my Father, I am His daughter.
John 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
Galatians 3:26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
2 Corinthians 6:18 and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”
So He provides for me, takes care of me emotionally, and protects me.
2. Because Jesus is my Bridegroom, I am a bride.
Hosea 2:16 “And in that day, declares the Lord, you will call me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer will you call me ‘My Baal.’
Ephesians 5:25-26, 31-32: Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, ... “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
Revelation 19:7-9 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
So He has made an eternal covenant with me, knows me, and loves me passionately.
3. Because the Holy Spirit dwells within me, I am His temple.
Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
John 14:26-28a 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’
1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
So He is always with me, makes me capable of obeying Him, and brings me peace.
Our God is bigger than we will ever understand; it took him 66 books to explain Himself, what He has done for us, and how He feels about us. He is far more than what I have written above, but He is very much those things above. In the same way, we are far more than what I have written above, but we are very much those things above.
Today I am so thankful that grace upon grace is mine because of God's fullness. I am His daughter, His bride, and His temple. I am protected, loved, and never alone. Though I know I am unworthy of such love, He deems me worthy, so I will choose to revel in the beauty that has become mine.
