"A New Season"
"Identity" (Relational Truth: part 4)
One can understand from the scripture
text of Gal.4:7--"So you are no longer a slave but a child"--that
one's true identity as a child of God is set in contrast to the false identity
of a slave. This false identity of a slave is at times associated with fear
and death: "For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into
fear" (Rom. 8:15). Fear can rob me of a sense of my true identity as a son
or daughter of the Father. This fear at times can be rooted in a sense of my
feeling separated from God, or feeling all alone and somehow not being
protected by God. Jesus came to "free those who through fear of death had
been subject to slavery all their life" (Heb. 2:15).
Into these fears, the Lord speaks:
"Fear not, I am with you" (Is.41:10); "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid"
(Mt.14:27); and "Fear not, beloved, you are safe; take courage and be strong"
(Dan.10:19). My true identity as a child of God is associated both with a
love that drives out fear (see 1John 4:18) and a living faith that is rooted in
God. Faith is an inner strength that is not my own. This is relational
truth. It takes courage to stand in the truth of my identity as child of the
Father: "Fear not! Stand your ground" (Ex.14:13).
As a child of God I am also an heir of
His promises--especially the promise of His kingdom and eternal life: "Did not
God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs
of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?" (James.2:5).
My identity as child of the Father is rooted in the truth that "God sent
the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" (Gal.4:6).
This is the spirit of adoption. I am a joint heir with Jesus, the Father's only
begotten Son "who lives totally for the Father and in intimate union with him"
(Pope John Paul II. General audience of July 22, 1987).
By my "second birth" in Baptism Jesus
now lives within me through the Spirit: "The child to be born will be called
holy, the Son of God" (Luke1:35). In union with Jesus I am called to be a
"holy" child of the Father. We refer back to Psalm 114:1-2 which says: "When
Israel came forth from Egypt, the house of Jacob from an alien people, Judah
became God's holy place." Who am I? I am 'God's holy place'. I am
where He lives in Spirit in His holy presence: "For the temple of God, which
you are, is holy" (1Cr.3:17).
Questions:
1) When
does fear creep into my life and strike at my true identity?
2) Where
in my life is God calling me to a greater holiness presently?
Scriptures:
Any scripture from the text; Psalm 62:6-9; Is.7:9B; Is.35:4;
Eph. 6:16
