Finding Security in Christ
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
I want to be secure in who I am, because I am “in Christ”. Don’t you? When I think of someone who is secure in their identity, I think about a person who doesn’t always need the last word, who’s okay taking a back seat, who’s not worried about being the best looking in every room, who’s not trying to have the nicest house on the street. I think about a person who’s not rocked by small disappointments, and lives with eternity in mind.
I like that person. The secure person.
But most of us are pretty insecure. We want to be a little better than everyone else. We want to get our way in that meeting, or with our spouse. We want the promotion, and feel we deserve it. We want our kids to be the smartest, or best behaved, or coolest, or most talented. We take offense easily, and we have a hard time giving up control.
If you’re anything like me, the insecure pattern sounds a bit more familiar than the secure person who always lives thinking about what matters to God.
And yet, I truly believe that as followers of Jesus, we have identity security available to us. When we are “in Christ”, we get to experience personal fulfillment, connection with other believers, and radical transformation in the way we view all things: from giving, to relationship, to marriage, and so much more. We have an opportunity to have roots that are planted deep and to continue to grow beneath the surface.
John R.W. Stott puts it this way, “To be ‘in Christ’ does not mean to be inside Christ, as tools are in a box or our clothes in a closet, but to be organically united to Christ, as a limb is in the body or a branch is in the tree. It is this personal relationship with Christ that is the distinctive mark of his authentic followers.”
When we are “in Christ”, we start to value what Christ values. We start to think like he thinks. We spend time with Jesus by reading the Bible, and meditating on his life. We gather with other Christ-followers, and together, we try to better bear his image. We go out into the world, and we serve.
The messages of the world constantly tell us to be insecure people. We hear it thousands of times per day. How much more do we need to hear the truth? The truth that God loves us. The truth that we don’t need all of that stuff, all of that status, to be valuable.
When we have our identity rooted “in Christ”, we are more prepared for the inevitable storms of life. Maybe we’re not as disappointed when we got passed up for that promotion. Maybe we’re okay that we have the most run-down house on the street. Maybe, just maybe, without all the bells and whistles, we are inherently valuable. We can relax, knowing God is working all things together for the good of those who love him.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
In fact, if you have a yearning to be called higher. To be a leader, to do a bit more. Learning to be secure in Christ, I believe, is a pivotal stop in your kingdom adventure.
A pastor I know often says, “new level, new devil”. So we want more responsibility? Want to be greater? How are we handling the disappointments at our current level? Are we able to plant your identity deep in Christ, or are we blown in every wind?
Like me, you might be a little bit of both. In some seasons, planted deep, and in others feeling like you can’t feel your feet on the ground.
Fortunately, there are some practical things that we can do to get ourselves grounded once again. Here are some steps toward identity security that I hope you’ll join me in this next month:
Committing to daily time with Jesus, reflecting on Scripture and seeking to value what he values.
Connecting with other believers and learning from them. What is the Lord teaching them right now? We can learn from each other.
Intentionally slowing down a little. I don’t know about you, but all of my worst moments are when I am overextended, and highly stressed. Let’s take the time to remember what is important to God.