If we do not understand how loved we are by God, and who we are in Jesus Christ, we will make the mistake of trading “rubies for rocks.” The product of our position with Jesus is not because of what we have done, but because of WHO we are, and WHOSE we are. 

When I was 9 years old I first accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior at a church camp. I was young, and definitely did not fully comprehend the gravity of Christ’s love, or the true meaning of Christianity, but I knew I wanted to be a part of it, and know Jesus more! 

            Now fast forward to college,  and I still did not fully know my identity in Christ Jesus. Thus, I made some bad decisions! I allowed sin to take over a large part of my time. Then, following college, and entering into my professional “adult” life, I quickly realized that I needed to change my life. I needed to act like the Christian I claimed to be, strive to become like Jesus, and truly live for him and his glory. Today, after lots of prayer, Jesus redeeming me in his powerful blood, being a part of a strong church community, and having great friends who push me forward in my journey with Jesus and in my identity in Christ, I am now at a point where I can confidently say I know my identity in Christ, and my value to my Creator.

            Identity has become an idol for our generation. People look to sex, race, and work to find their identity, because they truly don’t know who they are, and are searching for significance in something that is less significant. This was exactly me in college. I literally traded rubies for rocks! However, in Ephesians 1:3-6 NIV, Paul writes, “Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will–to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” From this passage we learn three things. God blessed us abundantly.God also literally handpicked each and every one of us. He knew we would be saved before the world was even created! Lastly, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ. This means, we did NOT choose God, but God CHOSE US! He did not choose us for anything that we have done or will do! God literally elected us to serve his purpose for his glory, because he LOVES US! He chose to save us, because he LOVES US! All of this to say, if I could go back and talk to twenty-something-year-old Stacy in college, I would tell her, “Girl, God CHOSE you, and has a grand plan for your life, all because he LOVES YOU, and WANTS YOU!” He chose Stacy knowing the sins I would commit, and still made a way to redeem me, that I should be: set apart, holy, and blameless in his sight. Let this be encouragement for you today in your identity in Christ! You are BLESSED, you are CHOSEN, you are PREDESTINED, and most importantly, you are SAVED and GREATLY LOVED by the literal creator of the world! Do not choose rocks, when you are given rubies! You are far too precious!

1. Discuss with your dream launcher friend a time when you traded “rocks for rubies.” What was the situation, and what was going on that you felt the need to “trade rocks for rubies”? Were you feeling insecure, unsure of your identity, or all of the above?

2. Now discuss a time when you clung to your identity and Christ, and realized your worth, and the immense love God has for us. What is the difference in the way you felt, the way you carried yourself, etc. from the situation to the question in #1?

3. What advice would you give to yourself, just as I would have spoken to twenty- something-year-old Stacy? What advice can you give to others, who are struggling with thinking they need to trade in their rubies for rocks?

“Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will–to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” (Ephesians 1:3-6 NIV)

Stacy Barbeau

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