January 6th | Our identity in Christ affords us so much more
- CoachJasonMays
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
As we continue exploring the profound question of who we really are on this earth, the Gospel of John cuts straight to the heart of our identity.
John 1:11-13 (NIV) reminds us: “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
This is stunning news. Becoming a child of God isn’t tied to bloodline, ethnicity, performance, résumé, or status. It’s not something we earn through hard work, perfect seasons, bigger commissions, or impressive titles. It’s pure grace—a gift we could never deserve. The moment we receive Jesus and believe in His name, God grants us the extraordinary privilege of being His sons and daughters. Our deepest identity isn’t athlete, coach, advisor, agent, parent, or leader. It’s child of God—chosen and reborn by His Spirit.
Jesus drives this home in John 15:16 (NIV): “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”
In Jesus’ day, rabbinical students carefully selected the teacher they wanted to follow. But Jesus turned that cultural norm upside down—He chose His disciples. In the same way, God chose us first. He appointed us not just to survive or succeed by worldly standards, but to bear lasting fruit. The ability to produce eternal impact—transformed lives, Kingdom influence, enduring legacy—is built into our new identity as His children. It’s part of the “welcome package” the moment we’re adopted into His family.
Yet Jesus makes the vital connection clear in John 15:4 (NIV): “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
A branch severed from the vine is powerless and fruitless. Apart from staying vitally connected to Christ—through prayer, His Word, worship, and obedience—we cannot live up to the potential God has placed in us. But when we abide in Him, extraordinary fruit becomes not just possible, but expected.
Too often we underestimate what God has made us capable of. We settle for self-powered effort when supernatural, lasting results are available through simple dependence on the Vine. As children of God—chosen, adopted, and appointed—we are designed for so much more.
Today, rest in this identity: You are deeply loved and specifically chosen by God. Stay connected to Him. Ask boldly in Jesus’ name. And step into the fruitful life He has already equipped you to live.
Reflection Question: Where in your life—on the court, in the office, at home—are you trying to bear fruit apart from the Vine? What would remaining in Him look like today?