Through generation after generation we've started defining ourselves in such a limiting way because we've begun believing that what we do, or our circumstances make us who we are. We try define our value by what we do. People have started believing that their culture, nationality, gender and denomination makes up so much of who they are, but thats so limiting, and its created so many barriers between people. Our Identity is way more holistic then what we think.
Our self image has become such an important part of life and therefore we develop our identities around what we want our self image to look like. Our image is based entirely on our flesh, so our identity becomes surface deep. We've begun placing value on our self image because thats what most of the world sees, and what they define us by.
Throughout our whole life we've been placed in "boxes" and different groups, and we've chosen to except these "boxes" as part of who we are. We allow the world to package us based on our, religion, race, education, personality, job and so much more. Since we've chosen to live in these "boxes" we've limited ourselves so much because we've created walls around ourselves, stopping us from becoming anything different. We start only surrounding ourselves with people who have similar packages then us, because they don't challenge our views or what we see throughout life. But by doing this, we're never pushed out of our "box", we never grow or transform, and this isn't what God intended for us.
The world has started placing people into certain personality types, and they define that persons identity based on the general stereotypes. That person is now only expected to be everything thats categorised with that particular group, but God wants transformation and growth. He wants us to be all things for all people.
We need to surround ourselves with people who can help and support us to grow in ways we never knew possible. We need to be pushed to take risks and to challenge ourselves and our own view points. God wants us to be open to every culture, religion and race because we're called to the nations, not just our neighbourhood.
The more transformation we choose to go through, and the more we stretch ourselves, the more authority and influence God will give to us. If you choose to stay in whats comfortable for you, and only walk with people who are similar to you, they will be the only people you have influence over, but if you choose to except change, and seek challenges that will force you to grow into something better, then your influence will grow because you would have the skills to relate to a wider range of people, and therefore God will use you to also transform their lives.
Although Jesus was holy and righteous, he didn't come to save the righteous and walk with those who were religious. He came to spend time with those who were against the law, and those who were lost. He was all things to all men.
Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews .To those under the law I became like one under the law, so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. // 1 Corinthians 9:19-23