identity

I Do but I Am

Dr. Mike 2023 , ,

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Romans 8:16

When you meet someone for the first time and exchange pleasantries, one normally ask what the other person does for a living. The purpose is to find out something more about the person’s identity. The challenge is it takes a lifetime to truly learn about anyone. So when one has a few minutes, we take cliff notes.

In my early years, I would quickly draw a bias picture based on a youthful and limited knowledge base. Over the years though, I have learned to slowly digest the facts to separate people’s roles from their identity.  

For example, if I met you for the first time, we would start by focusing on things you do. Your family upbringing, your work, your hobbies, your interests, and maybe if we have time your dreams. The goal is to develop a picture of all the roles you take part in. These are the things you do. They are the coveralls of your identity.

But they are not who you are. Your identity is much deeper than the things you do. Your expression of how you do everything gets more into the heart of the matter. Your motive for what you do likewise reveals more of who you  are. Your attitude also reveals the deeper side of who you are. All these combine together gets us closer to who you are.

But who are you?

We are complex beings made in the image of God. That is our status. We are born to reflect what we worship. Worship is a matter of the heart. At our natural birth, we reflect the genealogy of our parents. We grow up and simulate some of their characteristics. Later in life, we develop friendships with others. Some of their character habits may become a part of us. Then one day, God opens our eyes and impregnates us with His Spirit. We are begotten into the family of God.

We are now human with a divine Spirit residing in us. As we live out this life, we are like a child in the mother’s womb waiting to be birth into eternity. We are becoming more and more like our heavenly Father. We are now for all practical purposes His child.

So, who am I?

I am a child of the living God. An apprentice of Jesus Christ. Now hidden in His Grip waiting for the new heaven and earth. Then HE will lead and allow me to serve Him forever. 

Until then, we get to enjoy life under the Son. We get to do the things which brings joy to others and ourselves. God has wired us with specific DNA. He has  given us opportunities to develop skills upon these natural abilities to serve others. Through the entire process, HE has given us the knowledge and opportunity to pursue a life of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. This is our DO. But what I AM is a child of the living God.

Your roles are what you do. Your identity in Christ is who you are!

Don’t confuse your identity with your roles of life. Your roles will come and go. But your identity will remain for a life time plus. This is why we remind ourselves each day: I DO but I AM.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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You

Dr. Mike 2022 , ,

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

You are God’s image bearer. You reflect HIS Glory. Therefore, your value as a person is determined by your Creator.

Yes, you and every person you meet reflects a portion of God’s attributes and value.

Whether you are male or female, rich or poor, Jew or Gentile, slave or free, born or unborn, as a human agency, you were made to reflect God’s image and glory for the world to witness. Your value comes from HIM.

God so strongly emphasizes this point; HE gave decrees throughout Scripture to refrain mankind to create or make a stone or metal image of either HIMSELF or people (Deut. 4:16) to worship. Nothing was and is to replace mankind as image bearers of Almighty God which you and I are.

When you realize your life was designed to be a witness for others to represent HIM before all of creation, your attitude and focus becomes more aligned with HIS. As you slowly taste life from HIS perspective, you want more of HIM involved in your daily life. Your desire is to know more about HIM. Your aim is to become HIS student. Your hope is to become more like HIM. Overtime, HE, and you develop a Father/Child relationship. HE becomes your role model.

Life takes on new meaning. Every person you meet is a walking billboard of God Almighty. Every person has good qualities which allows you to learn more who God IS. Every person also has qualities which allows you to learn the opposite of who HE IS. For though each person is made in HIS image, we have all acquired godless attributes caused by the sin virus which weigh us down. But HE in HIS magnificent foresight, has already dealt with the situation through Jesus Christ.

In Jesus, we have the perfect representation of God. As a man-God, HE walked the earth living a sinless life by taking on our humanity within HIM and killing the penalty of SIN at HIS crucifixion. HE overcame life’s tribulations, even death at HIS resurrection, so that you and I may have life now and for all eternity. HIS life and story are the good news for all image bearers.

Jesus opened the door for every person to have a direct relationship with HIS Father God. Everything HE did was to include you within HIS family. But you need to accept this fact, be reconciled to HIM, and live out the family culture.

Until then, you will find yourself struggling to discover who you are, looking for love, joy, and peace in all the wrong places, and in the process of fighting your true birthright, you most likely will become more despondent and angrier at yourself and those around you.

The real you is desirous to be fully released. But you need to allow your Creator access into the inner chamber of your heart. He will not force HIMSELF upon you. He respects you because HE respects HIMSELF. He made you in HIS image and has wired you for a purpose. Why not let HIM fully maximize your human and eternal potential?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books 

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Comparison Trap

Dr. Mike 2020, Traps , , ,

2 Corinthians 10:12

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

Who do you compare yourself with?  Your neighbors?  Work associates? Family members? Your peers?

How does that make you feel? Superior? Proud? Or Cast down? Disappointed?

Comparing yourself one to another only leads to frustration and self-pity or if you are one of the select few, pompous and arrogant. It may take time or may occur immediately, but the end result is realizing we all don’t have it. Someone will always be #1 in your industry, your peer group, and your family. But eventually #1 takes a back seat to someone else in due time.

However, when you truly realize you are included in Jesus Christ which means your identity is found solely in HIM, you can breathe a sense of fresh air knowing you are worth more than you believe, and possibly if you hold a high opinion of yourself, less than what you believe. Jesus Christ evens out the playing field.

In Christ, we all have what God designed us for. He designed us for good work and equip us with the necessary abilities for successful fulfilling His desires for us. When you realize each of us are uniquely empowered to glorify God in our work, relationships, and conduct, the praise goes to Him and not ourselves. Only God truly knows the effort we have employed to take our natural abilities and align them with Him in support of His kingdom.

For example, John the Baptist’s public ministry preceded Jesus and was very short term – approximately one year. Yet he even realized that his service was secondary to Jesus and even commented that his ministry must decline so Jesus’ may increase. He didn’t get caught up with the comparison trap but instead fulfilled his unorthodox mission and gladly stood aside for God’s glory. Jesus’ own reply paid greater homage to John stating that no prophet was greater than him.

So, when you view the pages of your Facebook friends, or your associate gets the promotion you sincerely desired, or your neighbor drives home with a brand-new sports car that you always wanted, thank God. Thank God for your friends, associates, and neighbors, For, without them, you wouldn’t recognize how God’s Spirit of love was lacking in your heart without these events occurring. Thank God to make you aware so you can draw closer to Him until He becomes your prime joy and measurement of comparison. Then you will learn to walk humbly with your Lord, and serve Him, without expecting anything in return but to experience the love, joy, and generosity of your Creator. 

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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