Sometimes in our Christian life we run into situations where it would seem more beneficial for us to sin.

We think we will go hungry if we don’t steal some food, We’ll lose our job if we don’t fudge the numbers., The ugly truth will be discovered. If we don’t lie.

Brothers and sisters, the way of the world may look more sensible and satisfying at times, but let me tell you something, God wants better for you.

When we encounter experiences like these and choose to sin, that is really a crisis of faith. We doubt that God can provide for us, or pull us out of the predicament we’re in. So, we take it upon ourselves. Proverbs 3: 4-5.

Let me tell you a story about the apostle Peter, when he was in a tough spot, and God showed himself faithful.

Acts 12: 1-10. “Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to Harass some from the church. Then he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the days of unleavened bread. So. When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.

Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now, behold, an Angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; And he struck Peter on the side and raised him up., saying, “arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. Then the Angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; And so, he did. And he said to him, “put on your garment and follow me.” So, he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the Angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they were past the 1st and the 2nd guard posts, They came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; And immediately the Angel departed from him.

And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I knew for certain that the Lord has sent his Angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”

In that dark, dark prison cell, his close friend having just been executed, him slated to be next, chains on his wrists, and a soldier on each side of him; What Christian, do you think appeared to be the most advantageous in Peter’s eyes?

I can think of one, renouncing his faith in Christ. If he had done this, he most likely would have been released from prison and accepted back into the synagogue. Life could have continued on as normal for Peter, a peaceful existence, fishing on the Sea of Galilee, raising a family and building a legacy.

Other than that, his head was soon to be separated from his neck. So, what did Peter do? Did he take the easy way out? No, his response to this crisis can best be described in his own words.

1Peter 4:18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

Amazing words. Peter put his confidence in the Lord, and God proved himself trustworthy.

Brothers and sisters, if we follow the apostle’s example, then God will do the same in our lives as well. It may not be anything as miraculous as an Angel busting us out of the slammer, but He will show up. Trust God and always put Him first, and He will work things into your life you never thought possible.

Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

When we decide to put our faith in Jesus and confess Him as Lord, we are, at that moment, recreated in our Spirit.

Although we are still convicts on the outside according to the world around us, we are a completely new creation on the inside! Since we can’t visually see our spiritual being, we have to slowly learn about who we are now by looking into the only mirror that can show us who we truly are in the spirit- the Word of God. It can be difficult, in prison, to get a revelation of who we really are because everything we see reminds us of the mistakes we made to be locked up- our old identity. But what we have done is not who we are. We are a new creation!

Sometimes, this can be a difficult for others to see or to believe, upon our release back into Society. We may be labeled as felons or convicts. That’s why it’s so important for us to get a revelation of who we are now according to the Spirit.  We have been made new and are continually being transformed into the image of Christ as we continue to let the word of God shape us while we fellowship with Christ.

Our faith is in God that He is able to finish what he began in us. So there’s more than meets the eye! Your true identity is found in your spirit and you must continually seek to discover what  He’s placed in you . 2 Corinthians 5:16, 17 (NLT) says, “some have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. How differently we know Him Now!

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone, a new life has begun.” Don’t fall victim to an identity crisis, Know who you are-a new creation!

Prayer: Lord, I thank you that I am a new creation today in Christ Jesus and that I’m not who I used to be. Jesus,

show me what you have placed in my inner-man and help me to come to an awareness of who I truly am in You! Amen.