Identity Gift
Amos 4-9 | July 8 - 14, 2023
When we introduce ourselves to each other, often with a hand shake, we tell the other person our name. If the conversation continues, we might divulge other ways we identify: as a spouse, a parent, a grandparent, a sibling, working in a certain career, living in a certain place, attending a certain school. These are all ways we identify.
Identity is important, and so much so that identity theft has become a huge criminal industry. If someone has enough of your private information, they can pretend to be you, spending your money, using your credit cards, and even stealing the title to your home. Financial losses from this type of fraud rose in 2021 to more than $6.1 billion, according to the Bank of America website.
God’s Word reflects the importance of identity throughout its pages. The writer of I Chronicles, thought by many biblical scholars to be Ezra, takes the first 9 chapters of the book to identify people in the lineage from Adam through to the 12 tribes of Israel, including emphasis on the families of Saul and David. Even though we may find it tedious to read through the list, God emphasizes the value He places on individuals by identifying so many in these family lines. Our Heavenly Father creates us in his image and knows and cares about each one of us.
God Himself is identified in Amos’ words in this week’s reading.
“He who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the LORD is his name.” (Amos 5:8)
“The Lord GOD of hosts, he who touches the earth and it melts, and all who dwell in it mourn, and all of it rises like the Nile, and sinks again, like the Nile of Egypt; who builds his upper chambers in the heavens and founds his vault upon the earth; who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out upon the surface of the earth—the LORD is his name.” (Amos 9:5-6)
Amos reminds us that God is creator and sovereignly in control of all things.
God has gifted us with the ultimate identity: He makes us righteous in Christ Jesus.
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.” (Romans 3:21-22)
As believers, we are identified in Christ and are given righteous standing in Him. There is no greater, no longer lasting gift than that of our identity in God through the sacrifice and shed blood of Jesus. Our identity in Him cannot be stolen.
I pray you know Christ as your Redeemer. If not, confess your sins to Him today, seek his forgiveness, and give Him your life. Receive your identity gift today.
