Do You Suffer From Identity Forgetfulness?

 

 

Do you have the “talent” of forgetfulness?

This is a hidden talent for many of us. We can walk into a room and then wonder why we are there.

However, our forgetfulness can go deeper.

When things don’t go as we hoped, we forget the good things in our lives. If we do well at something, we feel good about ourselves; but if not, we lose our confidence, basing our identity on performance.

The “talent” of identity forgetfulness is exposed.

 

Spiritual forgetfulness lures us to lose sight

of our identity in Christ.

 

We focus on what we do instead of Whose we are.

 

The Israelites suffered from identity forgetfulness.

They experienced God’s miraculous deliverance but then complained when they got tired of eating manna, forgetting God’s character and his love for them. God had loved and protected them from the plagues and his faithfulness provided for them in the wilderness.

We are prone to similar spiritual amnesia, wondering where God is in the middle of a crisis. We lose sight of God’s character, also forgetting our God-given identity and purpose.

God’s word gives us hope for our identity in 1 Peter 2:9.

These words were written to a scattered people who had lost their national identity.

Peter reminds them of their worth the eyes of God.

We can counter spiritual forgetfulness remembering our God-given worth and purpose.

Chosen—we are specifically selected by God with value. When we belittle ourselves, we go against God’s word.

Royal priesthood—we have a position of honor representing the King of Kings to a broken world. We may be the only Bible someone will ever read.

Holy nation—We are uniquely set apart in community for God’s purposes. Even the smallest kind gesture can impact the world.

God’s special possession—we are loved and cherished by God, not useless junk.

During the months of my cancer treatments, I couldn’t do much because of the side effects. I felt side-lined.

God recalled to me the truths that my identity in Christ didn’t change.

Peter then shares our purpose of sharing what God has done in redeeming us from darkness into light.

The privilege of sharing our faith story is our bold purpose.

Unfortunately, we can forget that, shrinking from it or wondering if God will use us.

God has redeemed us, and we are to tell others.

Through sharing our testimonies, others can step out of spiritual darkness and into God’s light.

The cure for spiritual forgetfulness?

Remembering God’s character and meditating on what God says about our worth.

We are then empowered to live out our purpose of sharing God’s light in the dark world,

without the “hidden talent” of forgetfulness.

 

You are loved and chosen, holy and set apart for God’s purposes—whether you feel like it or not!