God did not make you to be what somebody else wants you to be.
God didn’t make you to be what your parents want you to be, what your girlfriend or boyfriend wants you to be, or what your spouse wants you to be.
God didn’t make you to be what your boss wants you to be, or what your peers want you to be.
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God made you to be you.
This issue has been around a long time! Even Moses had to make this decision.
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Hebrews 11:24 “By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.”
Moses had an identity crisis. He was born a Hebrew slave but he was raised as Egyptian royalty, the grandson of Pharaoh.
As he grew up, Moses had to decide, Who am I?
Moses had two choices:
First, he could pretend to be Pharaoh’s grandson for the rest of his life and he could have lived a life of luxury. He would have had fame, he could have had fortune, and he could have had all the pleasures of the world.
Or, second, he could admit who he really was – Jewish. With that admission, Moses would have been kicked out of royalty. He would live with the slaves the rest of his life.
Which choice would you make?
Moses refused to live a lie. He was a man of integrity.
Too often, people live a lie. They try to be people they’re not.
Here’s my first question for you: Who are you letting determine your identity? A peer group? Family? Co-workers?
Here’s a verse to consider from the Bible:
Romans 12:2 (Phillips Translation) “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remold your mind from within, so you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good.”
Don’t let external pressure push you to do things you don’t want to do or to be someone you are not.
The Bible offers this help:
1 Thessalonians 2:4 “Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts.”
Is your purpose to please God? Not if you are letting others define who you are.
It’s vital to be you and to know who you are. Because when you know who you are, you can live free from the fear of disapproval. Most people are scared to death of criticism and rejection and disapproval.
This leads to two destructive patterns in your life: Envy and People-pleasing.
Envy: I must be like you to be happy
People Pleasing: I must be liked by you to be happy
Both will keep you from fulfilling the life God intended for you to live.
Can you make this New Year’s Resolution: This year, 2014, RESOLVE to say, I will refuse to be defined by other people. I’m not going to let other people’s approval or disapproval shape my life. I’m going to live for an audience of one, I’m living for the Lord and HIS approval alone.
Brad Johnson is Pastor of California Community Church, Agoura Hills, CA
