What a chapter!
Where do I start?
I struggle with living as a Christian on a daily (hourly, minutely, secondly) basis. I get caught up in the frustrations of the world, I am swayed by the opinions of others and seek out approval and affirmation from them.
This quote rang so true to me:
"Our problem is that if we don’t continually remind ourselves of how he has chosen, renamed, and remade us, the struggle to grow in Christian character will become nothing more than another attempt at self-improvement, and self-improvement always results in self-loathing or pride.”
I must acknowledge that when I make these judgements on myself and tell myself how well I have done or (more likely) criticize myself for once again failing to meet the high standards that I set, I am really failing to remember that Christ is my identity, God has chosen me and given me the name of Christ.
Oh that brings me to the next point. I HAVE CHIRST'S NAME!!! How amazing is that! It is something that I never really thought about before but I have taken the name of the wonderful man that saved my life. I have His identity.
Amazing.
I read/heard something recently and I can't remember where (If you know please let me know so I can reference them properly) that said:
"The Gospel says come as you are but the Gospel means you won't stay as you are"
I thought that was wonderful and helpful when thinking about my identity this week. I came to Christ as I was, as I still am and God designed me and created me, He chose me while I am sinful, while I fail, while I am imperfect and He gave me the identity of the perfect One. This is what allows me to grow and change. As Elise says we will grow into our perfect Christ-like identity.
This week, acknowledging that I have taken the identity of Christ and that I don't have to pretend or try to be something I am not has been a wonderful reminder. Just this weekend at a party as I left early yet again (for many reasons) I wished, for a moment, that I could be the person that everyone wanted me to be. I wanted to be the life of the party, or even the person that enjoyed drinking and staying out late, that enjoyed chatting to new people and flirting. Then a moment later I wished that my friends would accept that I am not that person and wouldn't pressure me to have that identity (although I know that actually they don't, they really do love me for who I am with all my flaws and quirks, the pressure is entirely in my head, most of the time). The next day as I was at Church I realised how relaxed I was, how I didnt have to pretend while I am there. At church I am the real me, flawed, sinful, Christ-loving, quiet, and social all at the same time, but me. I want to be that all the time, I want to remember the identity I have when I am pressured by the world to have a different identity, when I am mistreated and feel like I 'deserve respect', when the frustrations and criticisms of the world cause me to make rash decisions and thoughts.
I must remember my life is about who gave me all the great gifts of my life that allow me to make the choices I do - God. My attention should be on Him and I should be working for His glory not my own. My pride is my downfall as is my 'hedonistic self-recrimination'. In these I am not acknowledging that all I do is for Christ and that in God's eyes I have Christ's perfect and righteous identity.
Once again I see how perfectly patient God is with me. I pray I will be as patient with myself and others as He is. That I may remember who I am and act with the acknowledgement that I have been given Christ's name and identity by God and everything I do is for His glory.
Read along with us:
With much love...
Where do I start?
I struggle with living as a Christian on a daily (hourly, minutely, secondly) basis. I get caught up in the frustrations of the world, I am swayed by the opinions of others and seek out approval and affirmation from them.
This quote rang so true to me:
"Our problem is that if we don’t continually remind ourselves of how he has chosen, renamed, and remade us, the struggle to grow in Christian character will become nothing more than another attempt at self-improvement, and self-improvement always results in self-loathing or pride.”
I must acknowledge that when I make these judgements on myself and tell myself how well I have done or (more likely) criticize myself for once again failing to meet the high standards that I set, I am really failing to remember that Christ is my identity, God has chosen me and given me the name of Christ.
Oh that brings me to the next point. I HAVE CHIRST'S NAME!!! How amazing is that! It is something that I never really thought about before but I have taken the name of the wonderful man that saved my life. I have His identity.
Amazing.
I read/heard something recently and I can't remember where (If you know please let me know so I can reference them properly) that said:
"The Gospel says come as you are but the Gospel means you won't stay as you are"
I thought that was wonderful and helpful when thinking about my identity this week. I came to Christ as I was, as I still am and God designed me and created me, He chose me while I am sinful, while I fail, while I am imperfect and He gave me the identity of the perfect One. This is what allows me to grow and change. As Elise says we will grow into our perfect Christ-like identity.
This week, acknowledging that I have taken the identity of Christ and that I don't have to pretend or try to be something I am not has been a wonderful reminder. Just this weekend at a party as I left early yet again (for many reasons) I wished, for a moment, that I could be the person that everyone wanted me to be. I wanted to be the life of the party, or even the person that enjoyed drinking and staying out late, that enjoyed chatting to new people and flirting. Then a moment later I wished that my friends would accept that I am not that person and wouldn't pressure me to have that identity (although I know that actually they don't, they really do love me for who I am with all my flaws and quirks, the pressure is entirely in my head, most of the time). The next day as I was at Church I realised how relaxed I was, how I didnt have to pretend while I am there. At church I am the real me, flawed, sinful, Christ-loving, quiet, and social all at the same time, but me. I want to be that all the time, I want to remember the identity I have when I am pressured by the world to have a different identity, when I am mistreated and feel like I 'deserve respect', when the frustrations and criticisms of the world cause me to make rash decisions and thoughts.
I must remember my life is about who gave me all the great gifts of my life that allow me to make the choices I do - God. My attention should be on Him and I should be working for His glory not my own. My pride is my downfall as is my 'hedonistic self-recrimination'. In these I am not acknowledging that all I do is for Christ and that in God's eyes I have Christ's perfect and righteous identity.
Once again I see how perfectly patient God is with me. I pray I will be as patient with myself and others as He is. That I may remember who I am and act with the acknowledgement that I have been given Christ's name and identity by God and everything I do is for His glory.
Read along with us:
With much love...
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