Identity in Crisis: Discovering Your True Northਨਮੂਨਾ

"You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." (Mark 1:11)

The Father spoke these words over Jesus at his baptism. In the original Greek, the word for "well-pleased" carries the idea of "delight, joy, satisfaction, and pleasure." The tense God used indicates this wasn't a temporary feeling – the Father had always been, was at that moment, and would always be pleased with the Son.

God the Father declared over God the Son: Your identity is not in your performance. Not in any miracles you'll perform. Not in your position in the world’s eyes, which will be fickle and ever-changing. Not in the approval of others, because Jesus would move from being celebrated to being crucified.

The Father ensured the Son knew his worth was rooted in his identity, not what he did. Jesus was defined by what God said about him, not what others said.

When I first heard someone teach on this passage, I wondered about applying these words to myself. As the firstborn son in my family, I tended to be driven, perfectionistic, and insecure. My sense of self would easily get tied up in my performance or the opinions of others.

But that day, listening to that sermon, I thought, “Sure, the words apply to Jesus. But me? Am I beloved? Do I bring God great joy?“ So, I dove into the Bible and discovered profound insights about my identity. These truths apply to you, too!

We were created in God's image (Genesis 1:28). God knows everything about us and still loves us (Psalm 139). We are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are God's masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). We are victorious (Romans 8:37). Nothing can separate us from God's love (Romans 8:38-39).

If there's only one thing you remember from today’s reading, let it be this: What God says about you is the truest thing about you.

Why is this the truest thing? Because God created you. He knows you like no one else does. He knows everything about you, and he still sent Jesus to die for you before you had any thought of him.

We call the message of Jesus “good news.” Deep in our souls, we yearn for the words Jesus heard to be spoken over us. You may have never heard them. You've dreamed of someone saying, "I love you. I'm proud of you. You bring me joy." But those words were never spoken by a parent or an influential figure in your life.

Today, hear these words from your Creator: You are God’s son or daughter. You are loved. You bring God joy.

Few things are as powerful as the words we believe about ourselves. We must elevate our identity in Christ above all others. When we don't know who we are in Christ and haven't experienced God's grace, we substitute other things. Pay attention to where you plant your identity; where you sow today will determine what you reap tomorrow.

Tomorrow, we'll explore three dangerous places where we often misplace our identity. But today, let these words sink deep into your heart: You are God's beloved child. You bring Him great joy.