This week, my team and one other stayed at a farm to do ministry. The farm has 2 young couples from America living on it, and it is run by an organization called One Heart Africa. The purpose of the farm is to provide jobs for Swazi people (this area has a 50% unemployment rate), allow the community access to healthy foods at decent prices, and to send carepoint kids home with fresh food for them and their families over the weekend.
On the last night of us staying there, I had the chance to kill a chicken. We went to the stand, picked it out, chopped its head off, plucked the feathers, gutted it and cooked it for dinner. I was already apprehensive, but in the middle of attempting unsuccessfully to chop its head off, I quite literally chickened out, and had our ministry host who was helping us out finish off killing the chicken. This immediately brought up feelings of never being good enough. These feelings started back in the 2nd grade when I would cry every week after dance class because I remained in the front row, where the not-good dancers danced. My thoughts were spiraling quickly away from the Truth, and towards feelings caused by the world and by the enemy. I was never great at anything tangible- I was an average runner, an average student at Stanton. I expressed all of this to some of my teammates, and even my fear that I would be a bad nurse. I feel like I have the heart to do it, but what if I am *that nurse* that can’t get the IV placement or gives painful shots. My teammates were quick to stop my spiraling thoughts, and remind me of my true identity in Christ. Of course, it is normal to want to be good at earthly things. But ultimately, those things do not matter. Our identity is not determined by what row you are in at dance class, what place you finish at a cross country meet, or if you are able to cut off a chickens head. Your identity and worth was determined when Jesus gave up His life for you on the cross.
I asked my teammates and brainstormed myself what some words are when we think about our identity in Christ.
Worthy
Chosen
Daughter
Coveted
Warrior
Coheir
Child
Valued
His
Royal priesthood
God’s masterpiece
I am sure that there are many more words to describe our identities in Christ! I hope that even these few remind you of who you are, not because of accomplishments, but of our Father in Heaven.
