Who Am I?Sample

Our Dual Identities

Just as Jesus had two identities during His time on earth, we too have dual identities: one rooted in the flesh and the other in the spirit. Our race, ethnicity, nationality, family background and surname point to our earthly identity. These have no eternal value, have no power in the spiritual realm and cannot help us live out the true purpose of our lives.

When we accepted Jesus, people may have labelled us a "good man," "godly man," or "righteous man." But even these are just titles, not our true identity. Our real identity transcends these labels and it is given to us by God Himself.

God has given us a special, priceless, and prestigious identity—we are the Children of God. As we discussed on Day 5, He went to great lengths to give us this identity, which holds power not just on earth but also in the spiritual realm.

But we are so accustomed to living by our worldly identities that no matter how many times life teaches us that these are unstable, we can’t help chasing after new identities over and over again. We think another degree, another job, another promotion and another car would satisfy us. But every one of these is merely a mirage that would leave you disappointed and unsatisfied.

Let us recall what we learned in the previous chapter: Although Jesus had an earthly identity as the son/descendant of David, he lived a triumphant life only because He chose to live by His spiritual identity—as the Son of God. He was able to go to the Cross and fulfill the actual purpose of His life on earth because He chose to live as the Son of God.

Our entire approach to life would be radically transformed when we start living by our spiritual identity as a Child of God. We gain the power to navigate any situation in life with confidence, grace, and ease. Living each day rooted in this identity—before God, before man, and before Satan—guarantees a life of abounding fruitfulness and victory.

Furthermore, a clear knowledge of this identity is also crucial for nurturing our relationships with others. In marriage, for example, harmony is sustained only when both the husband and wife live by their identity as children of God. But when they prioritize worldly or fleshly identities, irreconcilable differences and misunderstandings arise.

Being unaware or ignorant of this priceless identity can lead to great disasters in life. We will explore this in tomorrow’s devotion.

Challenge Question:

Please take some time to reflect on your dual identities. What are the pros and cons of living according to each one of these?