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Wednesday, April 22, 2009

WHAT ARE YOU LIKE?

WHAT ARE YOU LIKE?

Many times in my life I have heard this saying, I wonder where it originated. It seems to ask a question of each one of us. Do we really know who we are or do we as we get older see bits and pieces of our true identity? Are we governed by the way that we are brought up or influenced by others characteristics.

I believe that each of us needs to look at this question and ask ourselves are we who we were meant to be or are not living to the full the life we now live. This saying is said of someone who acts out of character to his or her normal way of life. But what if there are glimpses of possibilities in these acts. What if the true identity peeks through and we see glimpses of unfulfilled dreams? How many of us are living with dreams that have never been realised. This piece is here to look at things from four perspectives. We viewed through the lens of the world, the church, self and from the main perspective God's. You see if we look at each part we will see how we have moved from what we were supposed to be to what we have become. And I believe that we are all not living to our full potential. Or as God the creator wants us to live. Let's take a trip, working from the outside and steadily moving towards God's viewpoint.

THE WORLD

We enter the world as newborn babies. We have no control at the time; we are dependent on our parents or those that are tied to our new families. People, who have already been branded by others, boxed into boxes of class and culture. Already living what society tells them is acceptable. Telling them how they should live. But is this right, is this how we are to survive? Already in the cradle we have been labelled by what we wear and by what material assets we have. This is no fault of the parents they are caught up in the western world's culture. As we grow and mix with others groups and the political influences of our society influence us. Questions of acceptance becomes more important than who we really are. We start to act in a particular way to get acceptance. But does that make us free? Does that give us opportunity to express how we feel? Or who we want to be? In this system we are always going to say at the end of our lives, "I wish I had done this or that"

CHURCH LIFE


So is there is a difference between the world and the churches view on who you are? I believe there is, the church has a love for people, it tries all it can to help the needy. But there is a problem still in its outlook. In many cases it still sets boundaries of who is acceptable and who is fit to mix with them. It does not mean to do it, but the church is full of people who have come from worldly thinking, they may have accepted Jesus, but that does not mean that they have let go of all the worldly ways of doing something. The worldly influencing skills of the world still govern a lot of our churches. In other words they go by what they know or by what you do, or by the way that you act. To put you in a group. They and you get caught up in a battle that should have never happened. Both trapped neither giving in. The fear of accepting each other for who we are seems to be unacceptable and uncomfortable, for it may change the system that we have set up. The freedom to move is more important than the system for it is in freedom that God brings us into His understanding and new revelation. His thoughts are not our thoughts.

SELF

The next area of this topic is self. We look at what we have achieved. Is it good enough will it reach the right standard. Will it be accepted? We are continually looking to others for companionship. We want to be liked, to be accepted by society; we want to fit in. But should we become what others are or should we be individuals. Would society be more exciting if we were all the same? I don't think so. Just imagine what that would be like. Yet if we kept our individuality and still mixed, accepting each other's differences. Just imagine the diversity of a group of people like that. Individuality does not mean division it means enrichment, vast opportunity. A life filled with adventure.

GOD'S

God's perspective is different to the above list. God accepts you for who you are He loves you without conditions. He only wants to be with you. He is forever holding out His hands to you. He has made you to be creative. The creator wants His creation to be creative. He has sealed in each of us promises that will be fulfilled as long as we stay open and free to His call. In Col 3:10-15 it says

Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better. It doesn't matter if you are a Greek or a Jew, or if you are circumcised or not. You may even be a barbarian or a Scythian, and you may be a slave or a free person. Yet Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love is more important than anything else is. It is what ties everything completely together each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful.


So each of us is seen through God's eye as a new person. Let God work this new identity into your life. Whether you have just become a Christian or not does not matter the main thing is that we live the new life. That means if we are still holding on to the old ways, let the Holy Spirit guide you and comfort you. Let the new life be exciting and rich. That what the Bible means by living IN CHRIST.
2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Acts 17:28

"For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'

Ephesians 1:4,10

Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him.

Philippians 3:9; Colossians 2:6,7,9,10
And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him,
who is the head of all principality and power.

So by looking at these scriptures you can see that there is a real importance about being in Christ and you and I understanding the term used in scripture. It is by understanding this, which we come into the knowledge and revelation of our inheritance that the Lord has left us. We are in Christ;
1. Chosen
2. Gathered
3. Found
4. Walking
5. Dwelling
6. Complete

What a God we serve.

God Bless each one of you as you discover through your studies of the word who you are in His sight.

Amen






says

Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better. It doesn't matter if you are a Greek or a Jew, or if you are circumcised or not. You may even be a barbarian or a Scythian, and you may be a slave or a free person. Yet Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love is more important than anything else is. It is what ties everything completely together each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful.


So each of us is seen through God's eye as a new person. Let God work this new identity into your life. Whether you have just become a Christian or not does not matter the main thing is that we live the new life. That means if we are still holding on to the old ways, let the Holy Spirit guide you and comfort you. Let the new life be exciting and rich. That what the Bible means by living IN CHRIST.
2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Acts 17:28

"For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'

Ephesians 1:4,10

Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him.

Philippians 3:9; Colossians 2:6,7,9,10
And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him,
who is the head of all principality and power.

So by looking at these scriptures you can see that there is a real importance about being in Christ and you and I understanding the term used in scripture. It is by understanding this, which we come into the knowledge and revelation of our inheritance that the Lord has left us. We are in Christ;
1. Chosen
2. Gathered
3. Found
4. Walking
5. Dwelling
6. Complete

What a God we serve.

God Bless each one of you as you discover through your studies of the word who you are in His sight.

Amen

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