Breaking Up with Your Old Identity
Read The Daily:
“We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.” — Romans 6:6
You ever notice how we introduce ourselves by our struggles? “I’m just someone who can’t stick to anything.” “I’ve always been the angry one.” “I’m terrible at relationships.” We wear our dysfunctions like name tags, as if that’s just who we are. The message this week dropped a truth bomb — those labels aren’t your identity anymore. But here’s the hard part: even when you know that intellectually, your brain keeps defaulting to the old script. It’s like muscle memory for your soul. You don’t even think about it; you just automatically go back to who you’ve always been.
Paul uses this intense language about your old self being “crucified” with Christ. That sounds dramatic because it is. He’s not talking about a makeover or an upgrade — he’s talking about a complete identity swap. The person who was defined by their worst moments? They’re not running the show anymore. But most of us live like we’re just the old version trying really hard to be better. We’re still introducing ourselves by our failures, just with a Christian filter. “I’m a sinner saved by grace” becomes code for “I’m still the same mess, but now I feel bad about it in a religious way.”
What if you actually believed you were different? Not perfect, not without struggles, but fundamentally different at your core. Like someone who used to be terrified of water learning they can swim — the ocean is still big and sometimes scary, but you’re not the same person who couldn’t handle it. Your old patterns might still knock on the door, but they don’t live there anymore. They’re not the landlord; they’re just annoying visitors trying to crash at a place they used to rent.
Today, try introducing yourself differently — even if it’s just in your own head. Instead of “I’m someone who always…” try “I used to be someone who…” Instead of “I can’t help but…” try “I’m learning to…” You’re not faking it till you make it. You’re practicing living from your new identity instead of your old one. The old you might be familiar, but they’re not in charge anymore. It’s time to stop letting them make the decisions.
Prayer for the Day
God what are you showing me? What am I going to do about it?
God help me to see one person that I can serve through a kind word, random act of kindness, or simple gift today?
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Read The New Testament In A Year
One of the religion scholars came up. Hearing the lively exchanges of question and answer and seeing how sharp Jesus was in his answers, he put in his question: “Which is most important of all the commandments?” Jesus said, “The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ And here is the second: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these.” The religion scholar said, “A wonderful answer, Teacher! So clear-cut and accurate—that God is one and there is no other. And loving him with all passion and intelligence and energy, and loving others as well as you love yourself. Why, that’s better than all offerings and sacrifices put together!” When Jesus realized how insightful he was, he said, “You’re almost there, right on the border of God’s kingdom.” After that, no one else dared ask a question. While he was teaching in the Temple, Jesus asked, “How is it that the religion scholars say that the Messiah is David’s ‘son,’ when we all know that David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said, God said to my Master, “Sit here at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” “David here designates the Messiah ‘my Master’—so how can the Messiah also be his ‘son’?” The large crowd was delighted with what they heard. He continued teaching. “Watch out for the religion scholars. They love to walk around in academic gowns, preening in the radiance of public flattery, basking in prominent positions, sitting at the head table at every church function. And all the time they are exploiting the weak and helpless. The longer their prayers, the worse they get. But they’ll pay for it in the end.” Mark 12:28-40
So when we couldn’t stand being separated from you any longer and could find no way to visit you ourselves, we stayed in Athens and sent Timothy to get you up and about, cheering you on so you wouldn’t be discouraged by these hard times. He’s a brother and companion in the faith, God’s man in spreading the Message, preaching Christ. Not that the troubles should come as any surprise to you. You’ve always known that we’re in for this kind of thing. It’s part of our calling. When we were with you, we made it quite clear that there was trouble ahead. And now that it’s happened, you know what it’s like. That’s why I couldn’t quit worrying; I had to know for myself how you were doing in the faith. I didn’t want the Tempter getting to you and tearing down everything we had built up together. But now that Timothy is back, bringing this terrific report on your faith and love, we feel a lot better. It’s especially gratifying to know that you continue to think well of us, and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you! In the middle of our trouble and hard times here, just knowing how you’re doing keeps us going. Knowing that your faith is alive keeps us alive. What would be an adequate thanksgiving to offer God for all the joy we experience before him because of you? We do what we can, praying away, night and day, asking for the bonus of seeing your faces again and doing what we can to help when your faith falters. May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers. One final word, friends. We ask you—urge is more like it—that you keep on doing what we told you to do to please God, not in a dogged religious plod, but in a living, spirited dance. You know the guidelines we laid out for you from the Master Jesus. God wants you to live a pure life. Keep yourselves from sexual promiscuity. Learn to appreciate and give dignity to your body, not abusing it, as is so common among those who know nothing of God. 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13, 4:1-5
Read More – Bible Project Overviews: Mark, 1 Thessalonians