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IDENTITY CHRIST-less
Rod Shimabukuro“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. Acts 17:24-25
Athens - a city with people steeped in giving themselves to idolatry, worshiping gods made with hands. A culture given to the mental and verbal sparring among philosophers and educated superiors.
To a group of these leaders and people, Paul declares the Creator God, who does not live in man made temples and not served by idols created with human hands. God is supreme and superior as the One who created, gives, orchestrates and sustains life.
Verses 26-28: From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
Too often I’m sparring within myself, with my very own identity. I make my ideas, motives, sinful inclinations the leaders of my identity - rather than my Creator, in whom I live, move and have my identity. It’s crazy to think how easy it is to drift into a self righteous, self serving mindset. The idol becomes me…the internal, godless philosophies of exalting the “human-me.”
Identity Crisis is when my identity is Christ-less, I become more Self-full… or Full of myself…YUK!
- External Traps can become: Social media, promoting and publicizing “my life.” Being an on-stage leader, looked towards and up to, as a guide, teacher, pastor, leader.
- Internal Safeguards against the “human-me:” Good friendships, honest conversations where you are loved, guided, corrected, not babied or coddled. Repentance and intimate times in the Word of God.
Thank You for your gentle, firm reminders - to convict and correct my heart, mind and soul back to loving You with ALL my heart. Thank You for Your forgiveness, when my heart wanders into self serving, righteous thoughts and ways.
God - You are my supreme and superior God! In You…not in anything or anyone else, do I live, move and have my complete being. I Love You Godhead!
