1/14/2026
Ruddy Arauz

We’ve just started 2026, and I have to admit, I like the beginnings of a new year. They are moments that invite us to dream a little: to think about what we would like to do, set goals, and take on new challenges. Amid all this, almost naturally, the desire to become a better version of ourselves arises.

And that’s not a bad thing. Planning, correcting, evaluating, and strategizing are good and necessary tools, and we have the freedom to use them. However, as I was setting some goals for this year, I found myself studying for the next series we’ll have at church on the book of Ephesians—a book that strongly reminds us of our identity in Christ and calls us to live from that identity. This led me to rethink some things, especially when it comes to defining objectives and measuring what I understand by “success.”

Rethinking Success: Culture vs. Christ

Being successful is an obsession of our time. Achieving the goal I set is success. Doing something others admire is success. Being recognized for what I do. Not failing, not making mistakes, not falling short. Receiving approval, applause, or external validation. Showing that the effort was worth it. We call all of this success. And even as Christians, we often end up adopting definitions that don’t come from the gospel, but from the culture around us. Without realizing it, we begin to measure life, ministry, and even faith with standards that seem spiritual but aren’t.

The problem isn’t growth, excellence, or fruitfulness. The problem begins when we define success on our own terms and allow that definition to govern our hearts.

When “success” becomes the center, it starts to do something subtle but deeply destructive: it shapes the way we see others, ourselves, and God. Without noticing, it begins to dominate the community, generating comparisons, competition, and uncomfortable silences. It shapes our idea of leadership, valuing visible results over invisible faithfulness. It redefines failure—not as part of the human process that we bring to Christ and confess to one another for transformation—but as something shameful that must be hidden.

It also silences honest communication, because showing weakness seems to put the image we’ve built at risk. It tempts us to see people as means, numbers, or consumers, rather than as brothers and sisters. It becomes the primary lens for self-evaluation: “Am I growing?” “Am I achieving more?” “Are people noticing me?” And little by little, we can replace prayer with planning, dependence with control, and faith with strategy. None of this happens overnight. It happens slowly, almost unnoticed, and often with good intentions.

Identity in Christ: The Foundation for Life

That’s why it’s vital not to forget the fundamental: our identity in Christ. The gospel doesn’t start by telling us what we must achieve; it starts by reminding us who we are. Before it talks about transformation, it speaks of adoption. Before it calls us to do, it affirms who we already are by grace.

When we forget this, we end up living as if everything depends on us. We demand more from ourselves than God requires, stop obeying what He does ask, and judge ourselves and others by our own standards. The Bible is honest about our human condition: we are limited, fragile, and in need. We weren’t created to carry the weight of constant self-justification or “success.” That’s why grace is not a complement to the gospel; it is at the heart of the gospel. God doesn’t love us because we perform well, nor accept us because we produce good results. He loves us because He chose to love us in Christ. As the Gospel of John says: “You did not choose me, but I chose you…” (John 15:16).

And when we know who we are in Christ, we will know how to live for Christ. Christian conduct flows from Christian identity, not the other way around. We don’t live to be accepted; we live because we have already been accepted. One sign that we sometimes forget this is that many Christians are more concerned about what certain leaders will say, the opinion of some brothers and sisters, or pleasing specific groups in the church. While these can be tools for correction or growth, it becomes a problem when that matters more than how we stand before Christ.

Living Out the Gospel Daily

Let us embrace His grace and rest in His love. Let us plan, educate ourselves, work, set goals, be creative, correct, and try. But let us do it remembering who we are in Christ, allowing the gospel to transform every aspect of our daily lives—not only our beliefs but also our actions, motivations, and expectations.

Success…

OMG.