“Be true to yourself” they say.

“But which self?” I say. “My introverted, organized, third-culture-kid, creative self? Or my true self in Christ?”

I’d like to rewrite this phrase:

Be true to your true self—your in-Christ self.

—2 Cor 5:17: Gal 3:26; Eph 1:3

For more than 50 years, I’ve been learning how to live as this new creation God made me so long ago. And I still need to regularly remind myself who I truly am. So here’s that truth once again:

As all humans I am:

• created by God (Gen 1:26)
• wonderfully made (Ps 139:14)
• in God’s image (Gen 1:27)
• loved by God (Jn 3:16)

And in Christ I am:

• God’s adopted, chosen, and dearly loved child (Eph 1:5; Col 3:12)
• an heir and co-heir (Rom 8:17) 
• saved, redeemed, forgiven (Eph 2:8; 1:7; Col 1:14)
• holy and blameless (Col 1:22: Eph 1:4)
• free from accusation (Col 1:22)
• reconciled to God (Col 1:20)
• the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21)
• a new creation (2 Cor 5:17)
• being renewed in the image of its creator (Col 3:10)
• God’s handiwork (Eph 2:10)
• full and complete (Col 2:10)
• rescued from the dominion of darkness (Col 1:13)
• brought into his kingdom (Col 1:13)
• free from sin (Gal 5:1)
• raised to new life (Col 2:12; Eph 2:6)
• alive with him (Col 2:13; Eph 2:5)
• dead to my earthly nature (Col 3:3; Gal 5:24)
• free from human rules (Col 2:16–17)
• sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13)
• a member of God’s household (Eph 2:19)
• a citizen of heaven (Eph 2:19)

And now Lord, with your help, I shall become myself.

—Soren Kierkegaard 

What part of your true self can you live into today?

PRAYER

Lord, my roles, personality, and preferences don’t define who I truly am. You do. And you remind me today that I am your beloved child. As such, I am safe and contented, full and complete. But I don’t always live and act as though I am. Help me to keep living more and more true to my true self.