Identity Loss

Oppression causes identity loss.

"I had said in my alarm, 'I am cut off from your sight.' But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help. Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!" - Psalms 31:22-24 ESV

Like a person caught inside a city under lock-down people can get cut off from the supply.

Under the oppression of Egypt Israel lost their identity as children of promise. There was so much to do all the time and grave consequences if it didn't get done (see Exodus 1).

The prodigal son forgot he was a son and thought he would return as servant (see Luke 15:11f).

We live in a pressurized world and it is easy to forget things. Stress makes us occupied with details and we can forget what is important... like who we are and why we do what we do.

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." - James 1:22-27 ESV

We are on the planet to glorify and worship God. The word serves as a mirror reflecting back to us who we really are. If Christ has made us free we are free indeed. Free to live in grace and receive mercy as children of God. Free to do all we do 'as unto the Lord'.

If the city we live in is under siege our supply lines are still open if we remember to look towards Heaven. We gaze into the Gospel of Grace and remember who we were and what God has made us to be.

There are orphans to visit and widows who are afflicted. Only someone who knows who they are can have a real provision for those folks.

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