identity in Christ

I often hear stories of people finding their “identity.” On a college campus like UT Austin, it seems like there are endless possibilities when it comes to finding something to identify myself with. I probably put too much pressure on myself to try to fit the mold of what I think I am supposed to be, but I usually end up finding it difficult to know exactly who I want to be. Like most college students, I have my own aspirations and goals in life, but should these things constitute my identity?

Sometimes I get caught up in the world’s standards of creating an ideal identity for myself and I forget the most precious fact: Christ lives in me.

Or do you not realize about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? –2 Corinthians 13:5

This is pretty amazing when you think about it. As Christians, we shouldn’t find our identity in outward things, but we should find it in the Lord Himself. Paul emphasized this point throughout his epistles. It is interesting that he didn’t say he needed to imitate Christ or try his best to live a godly life without sin. Instead, he identified himself with Christ’s crucifixion and rejoiced in the fact that Jesus was now living in him. Once he realized this, he lived by this reality.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. –Galatians 2:20

When I look at the “identity” situation from this view, it is so clear that my identity should be found in the Lord. It can be hard to reconcile my identity in Christ with my identity in the world, but it really shouldn’t be. The Lord wants to be expressed through man all the time, not just in particular aspects of our lives.

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. –Galatians 5:25

Paul’s view in Galatians is that we would sacrifice living according to our own disposition and allow Christ to live in us. That means we have the ability to find our identity in the Lord not only when praying or attending a bible study, but even in going to class or spending time with family and friends. Identifying with Christ is not easy and it definitely takes practice, but the good news is that the Lord makes Himself available to us all the time. In my own experience, I find that if I am spending personal time with the Lord and investing time with other believers around me, my identity in Christ is strengthened.

Spending personal time with the Lord and investing time with other believers strengthens our identity in Christ.

If we are willing to spend time with the Lord everyday, we will continue to be strengthened in our spirit and express the Christ within us spontaneously to those around us. In this way, our identities will manifest what God intended them to be, which is a testimony for Himself.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. –Ephesians 2:10

Christ’s expression in us should not be limited, but we should continuously seek Him, no matter where we are. Goals, desires, hopes and dreams aren’t bad things. While they are a normal part of life, we have to realize that the source of our living out these things needs to be from Christ and not of ourselves if we truly want to express Him. Even though it’s tempting to think otherwise, I know that my true identity doesn’t come from myself or the world around me; it comes from the Lord within me.

By: Mikaela Cannizzo

Mikaela Cannizzo
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