Wake Up The World: Identities Balancing Act

Identity (The Balancing Act) 1st Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: a the old has gone, the new is here!”

 

As we continue on our 3rd week of our discussion on identity, let me say that I am encouraged by the feedback that I am currently receiving on Twitter, emails, Facebook; it is great to know that people are growing an being challenged.

 

One thing I want to say is that all change is accompanied by conflict; don’t be afraid to fight for yours. When we look in scripture we see a ton of proof concerning this concept. Whenever something great is to take place in the lives of those that God was using we notice that these people came up against great opposition. The easiest illustrations of this are stories like David and Jacob. When we look at David we notice that before he was able to be crowned king there were a number of conflicts that he had to overcome. He fought with the lion and the bear. He then faced Goliath which should have been the battle that elevated him to king, however before he could obtain the throne he had to get free from conflict between himself and Saul. Now one thing you must consider is David’s behavior at each moment, especially these early battles in his life. We notice that David was said to have “behaved himself more wisely”, when you have time read 1st Samuel 18 as it shares the formula for success with us.  Now when we look at Jacob we notice a similar conflict, in fact Jacob was in conflict from the moment he was conceived. He and his brother Esau were even fighting in the womb. But we see that Jacob had his biggest battle before he was going to be given a new name, Israel.

 

We find in these two stories alone that before you enter into new stages in your life, there will always be a conflict, a balancing act that you will have to perform.  The question I always get is how do I enter into the newness of who I am, yet do away with old ideas, old surroundings, old friends, and conquer this conflict. My answer is;  you have to be willing to fight for the progression. To believe that our walk as believers will be without conflict and turmoil is the best way to set ourselves up for failure. Instead be sober minded, be clear that you won’t be denied this change. Wrestle with it until you are blessed with transition, until you obtain the new name that God has for you.