Who Gets to Tell You Who You Are?

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

Who are you?

It sounds like a simple question, but think about how most of us answer it.

We answer with our job. Our title. Husband. Father. Pastor. Business owner. Provider. Leader. We may define ourselves by what we’ve accomplished, what we own, or what other people think about us.

Sometimes, though, we define ourselves by the things we’re not so proud of.

Our failures. Our addictions. Our mistakes. Our anger. Our divorce. Our financial struggles. The things we’ve done—or the things that have been done to us.

But none of those things get to tell you who you are.

God does.

Genesis tells us that we were created in His image.

2 Corinthians tells us that in Christ we are made new.

Galatians tells us that Christ lives in us.

1 Peter tells us that we are chosen and belong to Him.

Ephesians tells us that we are His workmanship, created for a purpose.

So maybe the question isn’t simply, “Who am I?”

Maybe the better question is:

“Who am I allowing to tell me who I am?”

Is it your past?

Is it your failures?

Is it the opinions of other people?

Is it the voice in your own head telling you that you’re not good enough?

Or is it God?

Brother, your past may be part of your story, but it doesn’t have to be your identity.

You don’t have to spend your life trying to prove that you’re worthy, valuable, strong enough, successful enough, or good enough.

Your identity isn’t something you have to earn. It’s something you receive from the One who created you, redeemed you, and called you His.

Today, stop allowing the world—or your past—to give you a name that God never gave you.

You were created.
You were made new.
Christ lives in you.
You are chosen.
And you were created for a purpose.

Walk in that identity today.

Rev. Carlos Figueroa
TheFreeBible.org