Who I Am in Christ

You Are an Eagle

While walking through the forest one day, a man found a young eagle who had fallen out of his nest. He took it home and put it in his barnyard where it soon learned to eat and behave like chickens. One day a naturalist passed by the farm and asked why it was that the king of all birds should be confined to live in the barnyard with the chickens. The farmer replied that since he had given it chicken feed and trained it to be a chicken, it had never learned to fly. Since it now behaved like chickens, it was no longer an eagle.

“Still, it has the heart of an eagle,” replied the naturalist, “and can surely be taught to fly.” He lifted the eagle toward the sky and said, “You belong to the sky and not to the earth. Stretch forth your wings and fly.”

The eagle, however, was confused. He did not know who he was, and seeing the chickens eating their food, he jumped down to be with them again.

The naturalist took the bird to the roof of the house and urged him again, saying, “You are an eagle. Stretch forth your wings and fly.”

But the eagle was afraid of his unknown self and world and jumped down once more for the chicken food. Finally the naturalist took the eagle out of the barnyard to a high mountain. There he held the king of the birds high above him and encouraged him again, saying, “You are an eagle. You belong to the sky. Stretch forth your wings and fly.”

The eagle looked around, back towards the barnyard and up to the sky. Then the naturalist lifted him straight towards the sun and it happened that the eagle began to tremble. Slowly he stretched his wings, and with a triumphant cry, soared away into the heavens.

It may be that the eagle still remembers the chickens with nostalgia. It may even be that he occasionally revisits the barnyard. But as far as anyone knows, he has never returned to lead the life of a chicken.

From Theology News and Notes, October, 1976, quoted in Multnomah Message, Spring, 1993, p. 1[1]

[1]Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.

Who I Am in Christ

1. In Christ, I am Loved (Colossians 3:12)

Colossians 3:12 TPT

You are always and dearly loved by God! So robe yourself with virtues of God, since you have been divinely chosen to be holy. Be merciful as you endeavor to understand others, and be compassionate, showing kindness toward all. Be gentle and humble, unoffendable in your patience with others.

2. In Christ, I am Forgiven (Ephesians 1:7)

Ephesians 1:7 TPT

Since we are now joined to Christ, we have been given the treasures of redemption by his blood—the total cancellation of our sins—all because of the cascading riches of his grace.

3. In Christ, I am Chosen (1 Peter 2:9)

1 Peter 2:9 TPT

But you are God’s chosen treasure—priests who are kings, a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called you out of darkness to experience his marvelous light, and now he claims you as his very own. He did this so that you would broadcast his glorious wonders throughout the world.

4. In Christ, I am a New Creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)

2 Corinthians 5:17 TPT

Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new person. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new.

5. In Christ, I am Not Condemned (Romans 8:1)

Romans 8:1 TPT

So now the case is closed. There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One.

6. In Christ, I am More than a Conquerer (Romans 8:37)

Romans 8:37 TPT

Yet even in the midst of all these things, we triumph over them all, for God has made us to be more than conquerors, and his demonstrated love is our glorious victory over everything!

7. In Christ, I am God’s Workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)

Ephesians 2:10 TPT

We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!

8. In Christ, I am a Work in Progress (Philippians 1:6)

Philippians 1:6 TPT

I pray with great faith for you, because I’m fully convinced that the One who began this gracious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ!

9. In Christ, I am Provided For (Philippians 4:19)

Philippians 4:19 TPT

I am convinced that my God will fully satisfy every need you have, for I have seen the abundant riches of glory revealed to me through Jesus Christ!

10. In Christ, I am Victorious! (1 Corinthians 15:57)

1 Corinthians 15:57 TPT

But we thank God for giving us the victory as conquerors through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One.

When I found Christ I found my identity. At some point in your life you’re gonna ask yourself who am I. When I found Christ I found out who I really was. It brings so much peace to my life now. I’m just on fire for him. I wanna live for him. I want to share the rest of my life everywhere I go of what he has given me. He has given me eternal life. Now I know who I am. I am a child of God.

My question for you today is are you in Christ!

Do you know who you are?