Your Identity Is in Christ Alone

When I became engaged, I was so excited to start a new life with my husband. One day, while scrolling through social media, I saw a girl talking about how she was sad to change her last name because she didn’t want to lose that part of herself. Immediately, the thought “Can’t relate” came into my mind.

Changing my last name was one of the things I looked forward to most about getting married. To me, it meant a fresh start—a clean slate, a new identity.

For much of my life, I felt defined by things outside of my control. It wasn’t always said directly, but it was felt—in the way I was perceived and the expectations placed on me. Often, it seemed that where I came from mattered more than who I was becoming. No matter what I did or how hard I tried, I couldn’t escape a reputation that wasn’t even my own.

Now Jephthah of Gilead was a great warrior. He was the son of Gilead, but his mother was a prostitute. (Judges 11:1 NLT)

It’s the very first verse of the story and the first thing we learn about Jephthah. I remember reading this passage for the first time and thinking, how unfortunate for Jephthah to be identified in that way. As I continued reading, I learned that Jephthah’s brothers kicked him out of the house because of who his mother was. Yet when trouble came, they went back to him—because they knew who he truly was. He was a great warrior, and through the divine favor of God, he was made ruler over them. His story is one of redemption, grace, and God’s ability to rewrite what others try to define.

I realized: our identity is not found in our bloodline, but in the blood of the Lamb.

Have you ever felt like that—guilty by association? Like you’re remembered more for someone else’s failures than for who you actually are? For as long as I can remember, I lived under a reputation that wasn’t mine, simply because of my ancestry.

One day, the Lord spoke Galatians 1:10 to my heart:

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.

I realized that people think or say whatever they will, but living a life that is pleasing to God is what matters. I was reminded of how Jesus was mocked and ridiculed—yet His Father is the most perfect Father imaginable! That was the day I truly understood who I am: His.

You are a chosen people. … royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. (1 Peter 2:9)

If you haven’t yet surrendered your heart and life to Jesus, this is your invitation to do so—to turn to Him, trust Him, and receive the new identity He offers.

When we turn our hearts to Christ and receive salvation through Him, we are washed clean by His blood. He didn’t die in vain—He died so that we could live lives full of purpose, joy, and light.

But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)

No matter what others say about you, or who you used to be, when you belong to Him, you are now a daughter or son of the Most High King of Kings. You are made new!

~

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.