JOSH
Good morning leaders! I have to be honest, I am loving this brisk and beautiful November morning. I hope that I grab enough vitamin d today to last for the upcoming 8-10 days of rain.
Now for the meat and potatoes.
This week I want to address the issue of identity and value. This is something that I have struggled with for some time. This year, within the context of deep friendship with high accountability, has brought this to the surface in my life. I am thankful for the close friends who have challenged me. So I would ask you to follow me as I follow Christ in this area.
The enemy has a pretty decent two stage plan that he uses on most of us in order to throw off our identity and value system.
#1 - He will get you to re-define the source of identity and value.
#2 - He will do his best to get you to measure yourself against these alternative standards.
First, we don't have to think very long about how this plays out. If I believe that my identity and value are found in my career, my possessions and relationships then I will give my heart fully to these things in order to be identified with success, wealth and popularity. The very talents, gifts and relationships that Jesus intended for his mission get redirected for selfish gain. Our culture has a pretty ridiculous standard in each of these areas as well and, at least in our culture, we identify people who excel in those three areas as having more value.
Secondly, the big problem with this value system substitution is that with success in these areas we become proud (the self-made person) and when we fail we becoming discouraged and devalued (a failure and worthless).
Maybe you don't struggle with money, success or people issues. Maybe your struggle is trying to find value by being in a role of leadership. In your mind, leaders are more valuable than followers. Maybe your struggle isn't with leadership, but with service. The more you serve, the more valuable you feel and so you serve yourself to death.
Whatever it may be that has clouded your value system, when we substitute Jesus' opinion of us with ANYTHING else, we get jacked up and our sense of value goes out the window. Our value/identity compass loses its true north and leads us further and further from our intended destination of intimacy with Jesus and effectiveness in His mission.
If you go back to the very beginning of scripture we get our first sense of identity and value.
In Genesis one we see God create man. From this text we learn a very important lesson. Above all else, you are God's creation. Scripture goes on to say things like this;
"For we are God's handiwork..." Ephesians 2:10
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved..." Colossians 3:12
"to all who believed in His name, he gave the right to become children of God..." John 1:12
He created you, hand crafted you, adopted you and deeply loves you. MAN!!!!
This is the very top of the tip of the iceberg as far as God's love and opinion of you go.
I have a attached a document which was given to me by my friend Rick. It is a list of thoughts from scripture about who we are in Jesus. I encourage you to print this out or keep it on your computer desktop and look over it daily. Choose a few that deeply resonate with you and commit them to memory. If there is a lie you have been believing about yourself then choose a few points that counter that lie with truth and commit them to memory. In the armor of God found in Ephesians we see scripture as our offensive weapon. Put your faith in Jesus, which sheilds you from the lies and then get aggressive, go William Wallace on the enemy with your sword. Memorize those scriptures and use them against the lies. Positive self talk can pep me up, but nothing delivers crushing blows to the enemy like scripture. Get serious and get tough.
We all look to Jesus as the source of our hope for salvation. But do we all look to Jesus as the source of our identity and value? I pray that the work you do, the people that are in your life and every other thing you invest yourself in will be enriched greatly as you rest in Jesus love and plan for you.
And never forget, JESUS IS LORD!
Love serving with you!
Josh
The Document from Rick
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