The scene of the crime is your mind.
Our thoughts precede our actions. Our actions are nothing more than the children of our thoughts.
The enemy wants us to think that our identity is found in our performance, popularity, and possessions.
An identity based in performance says, “I am what I do.” This is called performance-based living.
Performance-based living leads to pride (look how good I am) or despair (look how bad I am–I call this “'I suck’ theology”).
Both pride and despair place the attention on you. This is called self-worship. And this is exactly how Satan convinced Adam and Eve to sin in the garden (Gen. 3:5).
Jesus frees us from performance-based living because He lived a perfect life on our behalf (Matthew 5:17).
Jesus frees us from performance-based living because He sacrificially died for our sins. His death on the cross not only eternally forgives us, but it also clothes us in HIS perfect righteousness (Phil. 3:7-10; Eph. 1:7).
Jesus frees us from performance-based living because of His glorious resurrection. In Him, our eternal destiny is secure and His present power is available to us (Eph. 2:6; Rom 8:9).
Live in Jesus’ performance.
Emerson was on target when he penned these words,
“Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.”
Jesus wants to give you a new identity forged in His perfect life, His death on the cross for your sins, and His eternally life-giving resurrection. He wants to unite His life to yours.
In this sacred union, His identity becomes yours (Romans 6:3-5).
Therefore, His Papa becomes yours, too. And His Papa eternally sees Him in you. You are now in the Beloved (Eph. 1:6). I pray right now that this truth brings you to your knees in adoration and praise.
Secondly, Satan wants you to forge your identity in your popularity. Those who buy into this lie base their identity on what others think about them, instead of what Jesus did for them.
Remember, “The scene of the crime is your mind.”
If you base your identity on what others think of you, you’ll be driven by people’s opinions. This is called false worship.
“Does this sound as if I am trying to win human approval? No indeed! What I want is God’s approval! Am I trying to be popular with people? If I were still trying to do so, I would not be a servant of Christ.” - Galatians 1:10 (Good News Translation)
Lastly, Satan wants you to believe your identity is forged by what you own. America has bought this lie, as a nation and as individuals. And it’s killing us.
The American government is $14,000,000,000,000 in debt.
70% of people in America live from paycheck to paycheck due to overspending and poor money-management.
The #1 cause of divorce in the United States is money fights/problems.
The average American household has $38,000 in debt in addition to their home mortgage.
Sadly, our culture measures success by what we own or possess.
Here’s the deal: “Where your treasure is, your heart will be also.” And what we treasure most will TRANSFORM or DE-FORM us with an identity.
Satan wants to deform you with an identity based on what you own or possess.
Jesus wants to transform you with an identity based on being His possession.
My prayer for us is that we would so adore Jesus for who He is, what He has done in our lives, and His redemptive plan for the world, and that we would be so captivated by His supremacy in everything, that we would look for ways to downsize so we can live generously, not only financially, but with our time and talents, to serve this broken world that Jesus loved to His death and continues to love in His resurrected life.
God has an identity-provider and identity-protection Plan. His name is Jesus.
Enrolling in this plan (Person) is free. He paid the cost already.
