It's Okay to be Becoming.

Identity in Christ has always been a hot topic. Do a word search on "in Christ" and "in Him." You will find some powerful texts to help you know who ‘you be’ or who you are becoming. I can see all the English teachers reaching for their red pens! The point I'm trying to make is this.

All your doing should flow from your being in Christ and Christ's being in you.

If my doing (behavior) isn't lining up with my being in Christ, then I am in need of help. I need to know and believe the truth of who I am. The good news is my Helper is always with me. He cannot leave me. ‘Walking by the Spirit’ is the challenge that we as believers face daily.

Learning to do what Jesus taught is always a goal. However, any 'doing' (behavior) that proceeds from a religious desire to please God or perform for God is not the behavior God is seeking. He's seeking to bring about transformation of the mode and manner of thinking that you use daily to make decisions. He's conforming you to the likeness and image of Christ. The outcome of His transformation process is guaranteed.

Lord, can You speed up the process?

I had a rough weekend. Someone I love dearly was struggling badly. I thought I had instructions from the Holy Spirit on how to help. However, I realized I had an agenda that was not God's. I laid my well-intentioned agenda aside and just listened. Four hours I listened, and I heard my beloved brother-in-Christ share the deepest wounding his precious heart had ever experienced. I wanted to cry several times, but I knew he didn't need that. He needed help bearing that burden to the cross where we can leave it with Jesus.

After a wonderful time at lunch, talking about the Word, we prayed and parted. I promised I would be available any time for a call. We agreed to visit again soon.

This morning my brother-in-Christ called me. He said he had asked the Holy Spirit why he keeps making messes of things. The Holy Spirit said, "Because, you believe you are worthless." He further discerned this sense of worthlessness came from several horrendous moments he experienced in the military. This lie about his value to God and his family cause him to keep doing worthless things. He said he renounced the lie that he was worthless. He forgave those who caused the horrendous experiences and released the shame of it to God. In exchange, God gave him a renewed sense of how much he is loved and approved by God. I call that a breakthrough.

Jesus came to sozo His people from their sins (Mt 1:21) This includes the sins of others against us as well as our own sins. Jesus paid the full price for all the sins of mankind! He bore our pain. He took our suffering. The punishment we deserved was placed on Him, releasing God's shalom (wholeness of being) to us. By His stipes, we were healed. (Is 53:5 & 1 Pt 2:24.)

The verb sozo means to rescue or save, heal, deliver and make whole. Are you whole in Jesus yet? I am not there yet, but I have this unshakable hope and confidence that He will not let me down. He will complete the transformation process. By His grace, I will finish this journey with Jesus. To God be all the glory.

It’s okay to be becoming.