You are who you are...

Today: Romans 1-3

"It is what it is."

"You are who you are."

I can't tell you how many times I've heard words like these. They're not always directed at me, but most frequently used to excuse behavior--like individuals are wired a certain way that they can't break away from. As in, you are (and always will be) a coffee addict. Selfish. Stubborn. Materialistic. Poor. Foolish. Angry. Debbie Downer. (You get the point, right?)

Have you ever thought about how hopeless that perspective feels? (Just watch the Debbie Downer clip...you'll get it.) When it comes to people, the Bible teaches that some things are unchangeable...but sin and sinful attitudes can always be changed through the power of Jesus, His forgiveness and our choices to move in a different direction.

I love how today's passage said:

You are who you are

through this gift and call of Jesus Christ!

Wow. How can we get so off track? How can people live feeling like they don't have purpose? I think the passage explains this situation, too:

What happened was this:

People knew God perfectly well,

but when they didn't treat him like God,

refusing to worship him,

they trivialized themselves into

silliness and confusion

so that there was neither sense

nor direction left in their lives.

They pretended to know it all,

but were illiterate regarding life.

They traded the glory of God

who holds the whole world in his hands

for cheap figurines

you can buy at any roadside stand.

How true is that?!? How many people do you know who have rejected God and the truth of His Word (that really includes all of us at times!) and believed lies like, "You don't measure up," "You can do whatever you want to do," "You're just not good enough," "You don't need God or anyone else to help you...you can do it all by yourself" or "You'll never beat this addiction/habit/poverty"?

If we believe them, the cheap lies and imitations of truth can ruin us. We need God. We need His Word and His guidance for our lives. I love what this excerpt from today's reading says here (note that these are from separate sections of the passage, but I think they're definitely connected):

God is kind, but he's not soft.

In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand

and leads us into a radical life-change...

Out of sheer generosity

he put us in right standing with himself.

A pure gift.

He got us out of the mess we're in

and restored us to where he always wanted us to be.

And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.

That's pretty incredible. Yes, you are who you are...through Jesus. You and I can live freely...to be the people we're meant to be...when we live outside of lies, mess and sin, instead choosing to be led by God.

I should clarify that when you choose to be led by God, you won't be perfect. And while you're still breathing, you'll face the messes, lies and sin of this world. But it will be different because when God sees you, He sees the perfection of Jesus and His forgiveness over your life. One of the best things? You won't be alone, stuck in the mess. God will be with you, leading you to walk through it with His strength.

Tomorrow: Romans 4-7