by Meagan Mankin

We do not know who we are because we do not inquire of the Lord.

Take King Saul, for example. When Saul was to be announced as King of Israel, he is nowhere to be found. The people of the town look high and low for him and he is discovered hiding among the baggage.

So they inquired again of the Lord, “Is there a man still to come?” and the Lord said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. (1 Samuel 10: 22-23)

Saul was already anointed by God at this point. He had heard what he was called to and who he was called be, but he still hid. There was a gap between Saul’s view of himself and God’s view of Saul. While it is easy to laugh at the picture of a king hiding among baggage, we also understand.

Unfortunately, that is just a snapshot of Saul hiding from the identity to which God had called him. The author of 1 Chronicles includes a sharp warning “Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the Lord” (1 Chronicles 10:13).

Jesus, on the other hand, didn’t struggle with identity. He knew who he was because He sat at the feet of His Father. While He was physically on this earth, his ears were tuned into the Kingdom of Heaven. As a result, He grew in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52).

On that glorious day when Christ died upon a wooden cross, the curtain separating us from the Father was torn and we, too, gained access to Heavenly assurance. We no longer have to look to ourselves to know our identity, but can “look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). We have been crowned as “fellow heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).

Struggling with your identity? Here are some helpful practices:

Sit at the feet of Jesus daily to inquire about your identity: “Give us each day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3).
Drench yourself in God’s word with verses that speak to your identity such as 1 Peter 2:9. “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
Take any thoughts captive that contradict how scripture describes God’s people: “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Remain steadfast: “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).
Don’t run from who God is calling you to be: “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

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by Meagan Mankin

Hope Church