Why Tim Tebow Places His Identity in Christ: ‘Foundation’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Tim Tebow recently shared a reminder of why placing one’s identity in Christ is freeing and allows believers to find joy no matter life’s circumstances.
“One of the easiest things for us all to do is let the highs and lows define us,” Tebow said. “Our identity when we have success will be the highs and our identity will be miserable when we’re in the lows.”
“We serve a God that took our place on the cross. Because He went through His worst moment, we got to have a best moment. That’s where we can put our identity,” he continued. “There’s one thing of how we say where our identity is but another thing where we actually place it.”
“Do I place it in my relationship with the creator of the universe, or do I place it in a game? Do I place it in how people view me? Do I place it in success? Do I place it in finance? Or do I place it in Him?” Tebow asked. “Many of us know that answer where we’re supposed to place it, but where do we actually [place it?]
Tebow’s reminder of how placing our identity in Christ frees us from the highs and lows of life is a key aspect that sets Christians apart from the rest of the world. Rather than placing our hope – and identity – in the fleeting things of this world and building our life on a foundation of sand, we instead root ourselves in Christ. We can, therefore, joyfully endure life’s difficulties.
The former NFL star previously reflected on the importance of finding his identity in Christ after being cut from his quarterback position. “I am a child of God,” he said, explaining his identity. “My foundation for who I am is grounded in my faith. In a God who loves me. In a God who gives me purpose. In a God who sees the big picture. In a God who always has a greater plan.”
“…who I am is not based on others, on fitting in, on belonging to a certain crowd, or on living a certain lifestyle,” Tebow continued. “My identity is based on belonging to God. No one can take this foundation away from me.”
Paul speaks to the freedom of rooting himself in Christ in Philippians 4, saying, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Paul’s teaching rings true today and is echoed in Tebow’s encouragement to place our identity in Christ.
Movieguide® previously reported:
Former NFL star Tim Tebow lives out the Christian calling of putting others before yourself, a practice he prioritizes even when things go wrong.
“I think one of the biggest ways to get out of a slump, out of a pity party, is to get out of your comfort zone and help someone else,” Tebow said. “I have an agreement with one of my friends that when something bad would happen to me, that I wasn’t gonna do anything before I served.”
“I would get cut from a team; there would be something disappointing; there would be whatever. It doesn’t matter where I’m at, we would meet and we would go serve,” he continued. “No one needs to see, no one needs to know, but we would just serve.”
“When you go serve, it changes so much in such a way that it’s almost hard to even put into words,” he added. “So much of what we do in our lives is about us. And when we finally change the focus and the narrative of not putting us first, but actually serving, there’s something that drastically changes.”
- Content: +1Share:
- Content: +2