Who You Are Drives What You Do

In October of 2007, I wrote a little essay entitled, “Who you are drives what you do.” This was during the heady days of the Colorado Rockies’ “Rocktober” streak, and my main point was that the Rockies started winning when they began to think of themselves as a playoff team. I was reminded of that essay during the Rockies’ recent winning streak. I actually attended the first game Jim Tracy managed, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Could it be that in his quiet way, Jim Tracy convinced his players that they were talented and capable, able to win consistently? He believes it and now, so do they.

I think the same principle applies in spiritual matters: Who we are drives what we do. My experience is that those who understand their identity in Christ, who understand how much they are loved, forgiven, and empowered by God, begin to live more and more like Christ instructs. For those who struggle to act like Christians, the answer is not a long accountability lecture. The answer is I know who I am, a dearly loved child of God, a person forgiven through Jesus Christ, a person who is empowered by the Holy Spirit.

My men’s group has a favorite book, The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life (Moody Classics), by Hannah Whitall Smith. Consider what she says in an amazing chapter on “Bondage or Liberty”: “We are, however, continually tempted to forget that it is not what men do that is the vital matter, but rather what they are. God is a great deal more concerned about our really being ‘new creatures’ than anything else, because He knows that if we are right as to our inward being, we shall certainly do right as to our outward actions” (p. 68).

Does this principle ring true to you? In what ways have you experienced this truth in your own life? What examples can you give of ways that your identity has shaped your actions? How well does the church communicate the features of our identity in Christ?

I have prepared a list of Scriptures showing how God sees you, affirming your identity (click Read More! below). The portrait they draw is remarkably positive. I encourage you to place them on your mirror. When you look at your face in the mirror, remember who you are in Christ!

- Thomas Cross

In Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah,
I am… You are… We are...

The salt of the earth -- Matthew 5:13
The light of the world -- Matthew 5:14
Dead to sin -- Romans 6:11
Alive to God -- Romans 6:11
Heirs of God -- Romans 8:17
Co-heirs with Christ -- Romans 8:17
More than conquerors -- Romans 8:37
God’s fellow workers -- 1 Corinthians 3:9
God’s temple -- 1 Corinthians 3:16
Washed -- 1 Corinthians 6:11
Sanctified -- 1 Corinthians 6:11
A new creation -- 2 Corinthians 5:17
The righteousness of God -- 2 Corinthians 5:21
Saints -- 2 Corinthians 13:13
Sons of God -- Galatians 3:26
Clothed with Christ -- Galatians 3:27
No longer a slave -- Galatians 4:7
Free -- Galatians 5:1
Holy and blameless -- Ephesians 1:4
Included -- Ephesians 1:13
God’s workmanship -- Ephesians 2:10
Fellow citizens -- Ephesians 2:19
Members of God’s household -- Ephesians 2:19
Dearly loved children -- Ephesians 5:1
Light -- Ephesians 5:9
Citizens of heaven -- Philippians 3:20
Reconciled -- Colossians 1:22
Holy in Christ’s sight -- Colossians 1:22
Alive with Christ -- Colossians 2:13
Forgiven -- Colossians 2:13
Hidden with Christ in God -- Colossians 3:3
Sons of the light -- 1 Thessalonians 5:5
Sons of the day -- 1 Thessalonians 5:5
Completely qualified -- 2 Timothy 3:17
Equipped for every good work -- 2 Timothy 3:17
Pure -- Titus 1:15
Justified by Christ’s grace -- Titus 3:7
Heirs having the hope of eternal life -- Titus 3:7
Peacemakers -- James 3:18
God’s elect -- 1 Peter 1:1
Living stones -- 1 Peter 2:5
A chosen people -- 1 Peter 2:9
A royal priesthood -- 1 Peter 2:9
A holy nation -- 1 Peter 2:9
Belonging to God -- 1 Peter 2:9
The people of God -- 1 Peter 2:10
Aliens and strangers in the world -- 1 Peter 2:11
Overcomers -- 1 John 2:13, 5:4
Strong -- 1 John 2:14
Born of God -- 1 John 5:1
Given understanding -- 1 John 5:20