This won’t be a long post today. Just a little preview of a new series to come. At the very least, some foundation laying…

In recent years, I’ve referenced our ‘loved by God’ identity as the base of knowing who we are; however, as recent conviction has reminded me, there are other layers we must consider, other tiers we must not mistake as optional.

One of them, as I’ll unpack in future blogs, is our ‘man after God’s own heart’ identity (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22), which for the record is not synonymous with our ‘new creation’ identity though it is close. While a breakdown will be forthcoming, in short, a new creation identity acknowledges the justification by way of the Cross (one time redemption) while a ‘man after God’s own heart identity’ abides in the sanctification of the Cross (ongoing renewal day-by-day).

This in mind, I think for many of us, there are inhibitors keeping us from fully embracing a King David-like heart. Guilt and cynicism are some of mine but to you, the struggle may look different. Whatever the case, I can’t help but wonder why receiving and walking in an ‘after God’s own heart’ identity is harder than its ‘loved by God’ counterpart.

Perhaps we feel like a man after God’s own heart is contingent upon works, consistency, and the absence of strongholds. Perhaps we’ve made it a conditional label based on our perceived strength of spiritual health. Perhaps we just have to feel good about how we’re doing to fully embrace the call of following Jesus.

Again, while this share is more of a breadcrumb than anything, I want to submit we take inventory of:

• Any place God may be resource, not source (shout out to my dad, Steve Fry, below).

• What is keeping us from yielding to Jesus in times of temptation and/or when we sense our need for fulfillment is greater than adhering to righteousness.
• What is keeping us from receiving the totality of God’s grace and mercy.
• What is keeping us from going and sinning no more.

Bottom line: I believe many of us are trying to find something that isn’t lost, something we already have! The charge, then, is not to lament what seems absent but return to Jesus. Whether you’re concerned about the ceiling of your potential and/or discouraged about who you used to be, surrender the pride, confess your heart, and know the likeness of God is enough in the context of repentance and fullness. Don’t turn your redemption into a legalistic narrative. Like David, ask the Lord to remove the stain but leave the scar (More on this later on as I’ve been fascinated by this dichotomy in recent days).

From there, get back on your feet, run the race, and don’t look back.

Selah.

Graphic creds: Wingman Nation