Let Jesus Define You
Devotional Reading: By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 1 John 4:17 ESV
I don’t know about you, but I have spent much of my life trying to figure out who I am. Not what people have told me I am, or who I think I need to be, but who I really am. What, or WHO defines me?
Isn’t it true that in life we seek clear, conclusive definitions? Definitions bring clarity; they answer questions and fill gaps. When I am unclear about what a word means, I look it up. The definition brings understanding to the entire context of what is being communicated. The same is true when it comes to defining people. Defining who we are brings clarity and understanding to any situation or relationship. We ultimately gain confidence and a sense of security within the context of our lives.
Isn’t this what we are really looking for when we are seeking the truth of our identity? We want a clear definition that tells us who to be, how to respond, what to say, and how to say it. No variables: just a confident, clearly defined identity to settle the mind and answer the question of the heart: “Who am I?”
The Bible says, “just as He IS, so we ARE.” This means the way He lived, the way He acted, the way He responded, the words He used, His wisdom, His love, His compassion, His grace, and His kindness… all of who He was… is who we are. THIS is our potential. THIS is our design.
So, what is keeping you from walking in the likeness of Jesus? Think about all the things in your life that try to define you…your past, your education, your career, your relationships, your family, your experiences, your emotions…the list could go on and on. But the truth is, anything other than the person of Jesus is a false definition.
Let Jesus be your definition today. Let Him bring clarity to your life and define who you are in every situation. This is your inheritance, and it is your right as a child of God to declare what is true ABOUT YOU even if you don’t see it or feel it.
Prayer and Confession
“Jesus, as you are, so I WILL be today! In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Further Reading: Ephesians 1:3-7
Reading Psalms: Psalm 81-85
