identity.

As a college student (well, really as a person in general), there are a lot of things demanding my attention:

School. Work. The BCM. 

Family. Friends (and FRIENDS). TV. 

UT Athletics (I realize that some of you are now laughing). Facebook. Twitter… 

You get the idea.

Now you’re thinking to yourself, “Self. I know exactly where he is headed with this. Something about how all of these things demand his attention and while they might be “good” things, none of them should be the “first” thing. He’s going to say some cliché about how God should be first in our lives and that all of the other things should be secondary.”

Well, while that is very true, it’s not the purpose behind this entry. Here is the question I posed to myself recently:

Where is my identity found?

Sure, the “correct” answer is IN CHRIST… As a believer, saved by the blood of Jesus, my identity is (or should be) found in Him. But is it? Can I honestly say that my EVERYTHING is grounded in a FOUNDATION of Christ? 

Small example: How much time in the last week have I spent on… Twitter/Volquest/ESPN following the UT football coach search? Watching FRIENDS? Hanging out with my actual friends? Surfing the Internet for new shoes? (I need new running shoes for those of you who are Christmas shopping)

On the other hand, how much time have I spent this week… Investing in other believers? Sharing my faith? Digging into His Word? Listening to sermons? Praying?

Now you’re thinking to yourself, “Self. Doesn’t he know that true faith is NOT a checklist of the doing the “right” things? It’s so much bigger than that!”

Well, YES. Of course I know that. However, the question I’m asking might be worded better this way… WHO AM I LIVING FOR? Myself? Or HIM? I’m reminded of my experience as a camp counselor a couple of summers ago. Our theme was IDENTITY. All summer long I relayed to my campers that as believers we are to die to ourselves and become alive in Christ:

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” 

[Galatians 2:20]

Let that sink in. I (and all of my desires/wants/selfishness) have been CRUCIFIED with Christ. In other words, this life is NO LONGER MINE. The life I now live, I live by FAITH. He gave up EVERYTHING for me… what reason do I have not to put Him FIRST?

Every day/hour/minute, I find myself posed with the choice to either continue living for myself or to live for HIM. The way I spend my time. The people I talk to. The music I listen to. The things I fill my mind (and heart) with. And many days my choices look like this: Me. Me. Me. Me. Me. I. I. I. I. I. Myself. Myself. Myself. Myself. Myself.

It’s a battle. A constant battle. It’s a battle that I will lose every time on my own strength. BUT, there is a sweet reminder that all I have to do is LEAN into Him and He will provide:

“And my God will meet ALL your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” 

[Philippians 4:19]

What an incredible promise to find my IDENTITY in.