Many people read the Bible as a manual for self-improvement. They open the pages to find rules or steps to make themselves better people. They look into the text to find themselves.

But you cannot find your true identity by looking at yourself. You find your identity by looking at Jesus. The primary purpose of Scripture is to reveal Jesus Christ. When you read the Bible to see Him, looking at His character and His finished work, something supernatural happens. You begin to see who you are in Him.

Paul writes about this connection.

"For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:3 (NKJV)

Because your life is hidden in Christ, you cannot know who you are until you know who He is. Because He is righteous, you are righteous. Because the Father accepts Him, He accepts you.

When you focus on your own performance, you become conscious of your failures. But when you focus on Jesus, you become conscious of His perfection.

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV)

Stop reading the Bible to find a list of things you must do. Read it to see the person who has already done it all for you.

You do not find your identity by looking inward; you find it by looking at the Savior.