Many people today feel that it is their prerogative to create their own sense of identity. But our identity is grounded in our relation to God and God, our creator, determines who we are. So, any sense of identity we create will therefore be a kind of disguise. We get so used to wearing our disguises that we lose touch with our ‘real selves.’ In this state it becomes difficult for me to give and receive love since no one really relates to the ‘real me.’ One of the things Jesus wants to liberate us from is the ‘old self’ that we created in our disconnection from God. He does this by reconciling us to God so we can therefore also discover who we really are. But, having done this, we still must be prepared to put off the old self, that is, the old disguise. God doesn’t want to relate to your false self, and he certainly doesn’t want to help you bolster your old ‘self-esteem.’ He wants that old self to die and give way to the “real you.” It is the real child of God underneath the disguise that God wants to connect with. Because he loves what lies under the disguise, God will do anything to rip the false layers off us. It isn’t easy for us to let go of an identity we spent so much effort building. But that false self is not just a disguise; it is more like a fancy sarcophagus. Let God use whatever means to rip apart the embalming and smash open the coffin of your false self. And once he raises the real you, be sure to leave the grave clothes behind in the tomb!
Reflect on what you project to others and ask God to help you shed any ‘false skin’ you have taken on.
Read Ephesians 4:20-32
