the journey to freedom

When we free ourselves from defining ourselves by our successes or finding our identity in our strengths, we also free ourselves from having to be defined by our weaknesses or failures. Unless we want to be identified by our sin instead, we are defined by what Jesus did on the cross…

and lest we forget this in the interest of testing our personalities to figure out “who we are”, IT (the work of identity, which is the fulfilling feeling of having all the holes filled, which is what makes us whole, which is redemption) IS FINISHED. “Finding ourselves” is impossible outside of a Christ, for it is in Him that our lives are hidden, with Christ, our Savior, and our God. “Who I am” is not a sum total of strengths and weaknesses or an equation of some sort — if it were, it would be a very imbalanced one. The Cross is many things, and one of those is a balance scale, zeroing the weight. No sin is too great and no good talent, gift, or deed is great enough… ALL must be redeemed at the Cross.

Reflecting His glory instead of gloating or wallowing in our own will always be where we find our full freedom.

“But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?

He said, ‘But I will be with you […] I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3)

“My worth is not in what I own

Not in the strength of flesh and bone

But in the costly wounds of love

At the cross

My worth is not in skill or name

In win or lose, in pride or shame

But in the blood of Christ that flowed

At the cross

As summer flowers we fade and die

Fame, youth and beauty hurry by

But life eternal calls to us

At the cross

I will not boast in wealth or might

Or human wisdom's fleeting light

But I will boast in knowing Christ

At the cross

Two wonders here that I confess

My worth and my unworthiness

My value fixed, my ransom paid

At the cross

I rejoice in my redeemer

Greatest treasure

Wellspring of my soul

I will trust in him, no other

My soul is satisfied in him alone”

(My Worth is Not in What I Own, Keith and Kristyn Getty)