A Model of Identity
“Jesus replied, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” - John 6:35
Have you ever been in a relationship where your value to another person is predicated on what and how much you do? It might be how well you cook, whether you clean the house, what kind of job you have, or whether you are able to provide a certain kind of lifestyle.
We see in John 6 Jesus modeling for us that when you are secure in yourself, you don’t need an external source of validation to substantiate your sense of self or how to relate to people. Secure people feel no need to feed into the performance-driven culture in which we live where what you do drives people’s perception of who you are.
I met a guy recently for the first time, and he spent the entire time telling me about the important meetings he had, the projects he was working on, the social circles he runs in, and the people he knows as if those things validated him. I’m not interested in what you do. I’m more interested in who you are.
Jesus liberated Himself, and He’s trying to liberate us from the performativity of identity. You know, the sense that you have to prove your worthiness to people before they will accept you? It’s the sense that you’ve got to get another degree, get another promotion, join the fraternity, join the sorority, perform another task, get more letters behind your name, purchase another house, another bag, another car, have another child, get married again, and make more money in order to feel better and to impress other people.
Jesus’ response that “I am the bread of life,” is a radical stance in a world where what you do is how people judge you. And Jesus is saying, “I know who I am; and because I know who I am, I have already done enough. I am not going to spend the rest of my days trying to prove who I am to you, because if I do that, it is going to distract me from my purpose.”
Jesus modeled for us what our identity should look like. Is this how you see your identity? Or are you caught in the rat race of trying to impress others? Are you exhausted? If so, maybe it’s time to let that life go. God has a far greater purpose for you! Let go of that, so you can find what really matters.
Have you ever been in a relationship where your value to another person is predicated on what and how much you do? It might be how well you cook, whether you clean the house, what kind of job you have, or whether you are able to provide a certain kind of lifestyle.
We see in John 6 Jesus modeling for us that when you are secure in yourself, you don’t need an external source of validation to substantiate your sense of self or how to relate to people. Secure people feel no need to feed into the performance-driven culture in which we live where what you do drives people’s perception of who you are.
I met a guy recently for the first time, and he spent the entire time telling me about the important meetings he had, the projects he was working on, the social circles he runs in, and the people he knows as if those things validated him. I’m not interested in what you do. I’m more interested in who you are.
Jesus liberated Himself, and He’s trying to liberate us from the performativity of identity. You know, the sense that you have to prove your worthiness to people before they will accept you? It’s the sense that you’ve got to get another degree, get another promotion, join the fraternity, join the sorority, perform another task, get more letters behind your name, purchase another house, another bag, another car, have another child, get married again, and make more money in order to feel better and to impress other people.
Jesus’ response that “I am the bread of life,” is a radical stance in a world where what you do is how people judge you. And Jesus is saying, “I know who I am; and because I know who I am, I have already done enough. I am not going to spend the rest of my days trying to prove who I am to you, because if I do that, it is going to distract me from my purpose.”
Jesus modeled for us what our identity should look like. Is this how you see your identity? Or are you caught in the rat race of trying to impress others? Are you exhausted? If so, maybe it’s time to let that life go. God has a far greater purpose for you! Let go of that, so you can find what really matters.
Subscribe Now for Free Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2025
January
Plenty of RoomThankful for Your SeatWho God Invites to the TableThat’s the PointWe Do Not Have a Monopoly on GodStop Talking So LoudLet God Handle the Guest ListA Long-Awaited ReunionSeeing Jesus for YourselfIn Possession of a Personal PromiseGet in the Right PositionReady to ReceiveAligning Your Life for God's PromiseWaiting with ExpectancyGrounded in PrayerStrength in PrayerPatience Through PrayerStay Focused Through PrayerGod's Conditional PromisesGod’s PriorityGrounded in FaithTrusting God's TimingThe Assurance of God's PromisesIs It Well With Your Soul?Health vs. HealingStewarding Your BodyA Holistic View of SpiritualityGod Cares About Your BodyWhat You Put in MattersNourishing Your SoulThe Power of Prevention
February
The Power of a ComebackHealing from the PastStop Blaming and Start TrustingBury the Past to Claim the FutureFacing Trauma with TruthCelebrate That You SurvivedRepair What is BrokenNothing God Can’t FixDon’t Swing at Bad PitchesStick to God’s PlanDon’t Let Desperation Drive YouShift Your WeightWho Knows Best?A Good Idea Isn’t Always a God IdeaPeace in God’s PlanFinding Purpose in God’s PlanProsperity in God’s PlanTrusting God’s Plan, Pace, and ProcessKnowing When to PivotGod Hasn’t Given Up on YouNext-Level Faith Requires PerseveranceA New Revelation of GodIt’s Not All About YouNext-Level ConnectionsNext-Level CommitmentA Prayer That Moves GodPrayers That Carry a BurdenPray With Boldness
March
A Solid FoundationPositioned for BlessingMarked by LoveTrust God's JudgmentRest in God's DeliveranceLet Go of ControlWhat You Want MostWhy Church Still MattersFaith in the Midst of DisappointmentJoy for the JourneyA Place of SafetyStrength in CommunityPeace in the ChaosThe Purpose of the ValleySeasons ChangeUnshaken in the StormHold OnThe Power of ResilienceNever AloneGod Is Closer Than You ThinkLet Go of WorryLet Go of WorryBelieve Before You SeeResilient FaithHow to Be a Success God's WayTrue Success Starts with the SoulSuccess Through SurrenderCharacter That Speaks for ItselfThe Power of Being RealKeep GrowingSuccess in the Face of Opposition
No Comments