My Idenity is Not About Me I have seen too many attacks of the heart in the past weeks. Attacks, lies, shot at the very core of our being. And when these lies shot at the heart have no armor, they pierce with deadly venom and lead to death. "Control yourselves. Be on your guard. Your enemy the devil is like a roaing lion. He prowls around looking for someone to chew up and swallow." 1 Peter 5:8 (NIRV) What are attacks of the heart? An attack on the core of our being, our very idenity. When I read on facebook, "Another crappy day. Sucks walking around with total hate and evil in your heart." That is a blow to the heart, the core, the center of being, deeply mattering to God. This friend among many is a wounded one. It's then that we need to go to battle for our friends. Like the baby water buffalo on kruger hill. Battles cause injuries and sometimes casualties. But to not fight ensures death. Sin easily entangles and it's a battle to unravel. The buffalo has a sore head, the lion a sore back, the aligator a sore jaw and the baby buffalo deep wounds. But the battle is won. It's fitting the Lord chose to tell us to get equipped for battle, not equipped for a nice leisure run through the park. The need to have our idenity rooted in Christ is a deep one. In a battle, the breastplate of righteousness guards the heart. And the Lord tells us His righteousness is our breastplate in the intense spiritual battle fought not against flesh and blood. If we are believing our righteousness or right standing with God is rooted in what we do, then we are suseptible for attack. It is like a breastplate of armor made of a paper napkin. It covers but offers not security. In just one chapter of Scripture we can see four examples of the need to have and effects of not having our idenity being wrapped in Jesus. Meet our really lived it examples, Amnon, Jonadab, Tamar and David. Amnon Amnon is an example that sin leads to hatred. Either hatred of others or of self. Amnon was obssesed with his half-sister and ended up raping her. After the horrific event "hated her with intense hatred." (2 Sam. 13:15) Perhaps from the thoughts, “You made me do this awful thing, therefore I hate you.” His future was bleak, he ended up being killed by his half-brother for this act. Sin lead to death. Perhaps if Amnon had been consumed with Jesus instead of Tamar his life would be different. The effects of this horrific sin unseen. If he had seen himself not as someone who should be able to have whatever he wants but a servant of the King, He wouldn't have given in to the lure of self-indulgence. Jonadab Jonadab knew Amnon was obsessed with Tamar so he tells him how to "get her". Ok seriously, who in their right mind gives advice of how to rape someone? The only thing I can imagine is that this "advisor" appointed to Amnon so desperately wanted the approval of his authorities that it overshadowed his knowing and doing what is right. When our idenity is in Christ, we find our approval in what Jesus thinks of us, not in what our authorities think of us. This sure exposes the ugliness of people-pleasing instead of God-pleasing. Tamar Sweet, loss of innocence Tamar. Her hope couldn’t be in getting married someday, it couldn’t be in her circumstances because they offered her nothing. After loosing seemingly everything, hope of a husband and kids her only real hope was to see God as Redeemer. Scripture doesn't tell us if she did. But in the face of disappointment, it takes willingness to put full hope and security in the Lord, not circumstances. A willingness to step off the edge fully trusting that He is going to come through (bungee jumping experience) and let God write your story. Her hope was to let her lonliness drive her to Jesus. Letting being life be defined by being a child and friend of God and letting that be enough. When all is stripped away, titles, gifts and dreams, is Jesus really enough for you? Will you be shaken, taking a heart blow or can you stand and see the arrow drop to the ground still aflame because your idenity is deeply rooted in how God sees you, not in how the world sees and defines you? Like I said before sin and the battle bring injuries, like a young husband who looked at porn. The wife feels inadequate, feels like she doesn’t measure up, is unwated, unlovely. But our adequacy comes from Jesus.( 2 Corinthians 3:)5- Again, our identity in Christ is a big deal. Yet, even there, in the pain, God, the fully present One can be revealed, glorified. The wife, a picture of Jesus, who has given His all, married to One (His bride) who so often looks to others to find pleasure. But He gives Himself, not because the bride deserves it but b/c He Himself is Faithful. David Furious without action, have you ever seen it, experienced it? How does that happen? How can we see or hear about such awfulness yet do nothing? It was just 2 years prior to this rape that David had an affair and murdered the husband, one of his mighty men to cover up his sin. Perhaps he thought, "Who am I to say such and such to them? I've done the same thing." But God tells us that, "Those who know their God display strength and take action." Daniel 11:32 When our idenity is not in Christ, it hinders us from acting. We will fail, will fall flat on our face. But if we can't trust in the reality that Jesus died for that sin or mistake too, then we have our paper napkins up rather than our breatplates of iron righteousness. Our own righteousness is but a flimsy paper napkin, not worthy of our trust to keep us standing in the face of the firey darts.  So here we are at Day 7 of the Not About Me November Challenge. And I am loving every minute of it! (It's not too late to join the journey and join us in seeing God transform our hearts and minds as we behold Him and reflect on everything in life being about Him, not us. If you don't blog, feel free to join up through posting a facebook status or tweet with the hashtag #NotAboutMeNovember.) Each weekday until Thanksgiving there is a new link up. Then tweet your post url with the hashtag #NotAboutMeNovember and grab the button to put in your post. Here's my last six days. But be sure to scroll down (even to previous posts) to read the other ladies linked up who have great insights. Technology is not about me {Day 6} My Curiousity is not about me {Day 5} My emotions are not about me {Day 4} My reputation is not about me {Day 3} What I know is not about me {Day 2} My ministry is not about me{Day 1} I'm linking up with Women Living Well, A Holy Experience, We Are That Family, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Word-filled Wednesdays, Good Morning Girls
6 Comments
11/8/2011 11:19:37 pm
It isn't about us. But we think the world revolves around our feelings, our impressions, our alliances. 11/9/2011 12:42:01 am
Amen Sister! We can continue to post positive and spread our faith on facebook, etc to promote heart filled love.
http://tuningmyhearttopraise.blogspot.com/2011/11/this-journey-of-faith-this-journey-of.html
11/9/2011 01:38:17 am
I love the the series...it's not about me...I was just explaining a situation to my husband...i summed it up by say...well it's not about me...what freedom I am finding...especially finding my identity in Christ alone...
Wow! Riveting film! And have I got this right: you witnessed this? Leave a Reply. |
New here? Head on over to the Home page to see what we're all about.
Two Free eBooks for Subscribers
Join 11,000+ others and get Missional Women updates and two FREE eBooks.
Subscribe Are you new to our site? Check out our HOME page to get a better idea about the Missional Women ministry.
Popular Posts
|