You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26).
Several years ago a 17-year-old girl drove a great distance to talk with me. I
have never met a girl who had so much going for her. She was cover-girl pretty
with a wonderful figure. She was immaculately dressed. She had completed 12
years of school in 11 years, graduating with a very high grade point average. As
a talented musician, she had received a music scholarship to a Christian
university. And she drove a brand-new sports car her parents gave her for
graduation. I was amazed that one person could have so much.
She talked with me for half an hour and I realized that what I saw on the
outside wasn't matching what I was beginning to see on the inside. "Mary," I
said finally, "have you ever cried yourself to sleep at night because you felt
inadequate and wished you were somebody else?"
She began to cry. "How did you know?"
"Truthfully, Mary," I answered, "I've learned that people who appear to have it
all together are often far from being together inside."
Often what we show on the outside is a false front designed to disguise who we
really are and cover up the secret hurts we feel about our identity. Somehow we
believe that if we appear attractive or perform well or enjoy a certain amount
of status, then we will have it all together inside as well. But that's not
necessarily true. External appearance, accomplishment and recognition don't
necessarily reflect--or produce--internal peace and maturity. All the stuff and
status you can acquire don't add up to personal wholeness. Millions of people
climb those ladders to success, only to discover when they reach the top that
they are leaning against the wrong wall!...The only identity equation that works
in God's kingdom is you plus Christ equals wholeness and meaning.
Dr. Anderson, Freedom in Christ and Harvest House Publishers
www.ficm.org
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