The key to obedience is for us Christians to understand our Identity. The subject of identity is key to us all to understand our relationship with our heavenly Father and our rights in the Kingdom of God. The Bible says in Hosea 4:6 - "My people are destroyed from lack of Knowledge ...i also reject you". It is important for us born again Christians who are set apart for God's Glory to know who we are. Do you and I know who we are? Many people do not understand clearly what our identity is.
1 Peter 2:9 declares we are chosen race, royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of His own possession to proclaim excellencies of Him who called you out of Darkness into His marvelous light.
Ephesians 1:5 .. having predestined us to have adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the good pleasure of His will.
For one to understand one's identity in Christ we need WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING.
Understanding Comes from learning the word of God. Knowledge comes from experience and skills God provides for us and Wisdom is an accumulation of understanding and Knowledge over time.
Proverbs 7 & 8 (Please read the two chapters) are key in the depth of helping us appreciate that our identity is in obedience to God creating us in His image for His purpose as His chosen ambassadors. We must live according to God's Laws and make Wisdom a key component of our identity through applying knowledge and understanding. Specifically Proverbs 8:35 "for whoever finds me finds life and obtains Favor from the Lord."
Luke 15: 11-32 Our Lord Jesus Christ is a God of Second chances. When we read the Parable of the "Prodigal son", we learn many lessons. However, some Key things to note:
- The Two sons were given equal share of inheritance.
- One son went rogue and fell totally out of Grace of the Father with dire consequences.
- The son who went rogue "came to his senses" understood his identity and went home and was received by the Father with Joy and celebration. (The Second Chance).
- The tragedy is the elder son who stayed at home with the Father and did not know his identity as seen by his grumbling to the Father about celebrating the younger brother. He was at home but neither knew his identity nor his authority.
As Born again Christians, as we PUSH for 2025, be sure to know your identity. We must reflect and seek knowledge, understanding and wisdom so that we can effectively identify as Children of the Most High God.
God bless you.
Pr Edward Barlow