Submitted by Josh
Arrington
I am the vine;
you are the branches. If a man remains
in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5
It is so easy to find our identity in what we do instead of
who we are. We live in a culture where
people are defined by what they have accomplished or a position they have at
work. It can be easy to forget that there is more to a person than what they do.
Even as missionaries in Canada we find ourselves struggling
with this at different times. We can get
so busy trying to plant churches, make new connections, and build relationships
that our identity can quickly be wrapped up in what we do. It is easy to start thinking that God sees us
for what we do as well, which leads to even more frustrations in our life. We begin to question whether or not we have
what it takes, or wonder if what we are doing is successful. Before long we can
totally forget that our true identity is found in Christ.
Jesus told his disciples in John 15 that He is the vine and
we are the branches and apart from Him we can do nothing. In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul reminds the early
church in Corinth that their bodies are no longer their own because they have
been bought with the blood of Christ.
Peter reminds the early church in 1 Peter 2 that they are a chosen
people, a royal priesthood, a holy people, and a people belonging to God.
God’s love for us and our identity does not change based
upon how successful we are in what we do for Him. Our true identity is who we are in Him. If
you find yourself questioning your identity or trying to find favor in God’s
sight based on what you do, remember, you are more than what you do. Even while we were still sinners Christ came
and died for us!
Lord, help me to
understand what it means to be Your child. Help me to rest in the confidence of
who I am in You, not what I do.
