Do you know who you are?
In the inspiring movie “Overcomer,” one of the characters is asked,
“Do you know who you are?”
His response is typical of most of us. He identifies himself by his vocation, spouse, children, family connections, friends, sport(s) and maybe even his church.
But the question leaves the character thinking. Just what is his identity?
Today I ask you the same question: do you know who you are?
If we identify ourselves by our vocation, there eventually comes a time to retire. Or there are times when we aren’t at work. And if we are always thinking about work, we don’t have much of a personal life. If we define ourselves by our spouse, or significant other, there will be times when we are apart. And we are not them. If we define ourselves by our parents, they will not always be around. And if by children, they will eventually grow up and leave home. And friends will let us down and disappoint us no matter how hard we try to be faithful. Our churches too. We are bodies of Christ composed of fallible human beings.
If we identify ourselves by our favorite animals or sports or hobbies, those things too change over time. Animals die. Our bodies age. Hobbies only go so far.
As the character in the movie discovered, his real and true identity lay in the fact that He was a child of God. He was a Christ follower. That was the core of His being.
When we grasp the truth of that identity, it changes everything. We can have peace. We can have joy. We can quit trying so hard to prove anything to anyone.
We don’t have to prove ourselves to God. He already loves us just the way we are, but loves us too much to leave us this way. Philippians 1:6 promises us that “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…”
There are so many other Scriptures that comfort and encourage us with the promises of God for who we are when we know we are His. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
In the movie, the lovely school principal (Priscilla Shirer) invites a newly saved teenage girl to look up Ephesians 1 and 2 and write down all of the “I ams…” For example, “I am …blessed… chosen… blameless… adopted… forgiven… empowered.” Etc. (You can practice this exercise too! It’s enlightening!) Knowing these things about her new identity in Christ gives her peace, strength, hope and joy!
How about you? Have you made the decision to be a Christ follower yet? Do you know that you are a child of God? “In His Presence is fullness of joy and pleasures forever more.” (Psalm 16:11)
If you have not, this is an invitation to do so. If you have, then is this your primary identity? Let the fact that you are His fill you with hope and guide you forever.
“Do you know who you are?”
His response is typical of most of us. He identifies himself by his vocation, spouse, children, family connections, friends, sport(s) and maybe even his church.
But the question leaves the character thinking. Just what is his identity?
Today I ask you the same question: do you know who you are?
If we identify ourselves by our vocation, there eventually comes a time to retire. Or there are times when we aren’t at work. And if we are always thinking about work, we don’t have much of a personal life. If we define ourselves by our spouse, or significant other, there will be times when we are apart. And we are not them. If we define ourselves by our parents, they will not always be around. And if by children, they will eventually grow up and leave home. And friends will let us down and disappoint us no matter how hard we try to be faithful. Our churches too. We are bodies of Christ composed of fallible human beings.
If we identify ourselves by our favorite animals or sports or hobbies, those things too change over time. Animals die. Our bodies age. Hobbies only go so far.
As the character in the movie discovered, his real and true identity lay in the fact that He was a child of God. He was a Christ follower. That was the core of His being.
When we grasp the truth of that identity, it changes everything. We can have peace. We can have joy. We can quit trying so hard to prove anything to anyone.
We don’t have to prove ourselves to God. He already loves us just the way we are, but loves us too much to leave us this way. Philippians 1:6 promises us that “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…”
There are so many other Scriptures that comfort and encourage us with the promises of God for who we are when we know we are His. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
In the movie, the lovely school principal (Priscilla Shirer) invites a newly saved teenage girl to look up Ephesians 1 and 2 and write down all of the “I ams…” For example, “I am …blessed… chosen… blameless… adopted… forgiven… empowered.” Etc. (You can practice this exercise too! It’s enlightening!) Knowing these things about her new identity in Christ gives her peace, strength, hope and joy!
How about you? Have you made the decision to be a Christ follower yet? Do you know that you are a child of God? “In His Presence is fullness of joy and pleasures forever more.” (Psalm 16:11)
If you have not, this is an invitation to do so. If you have, then is this your primary identity? Let the fact that you are His fill you with hope and guide you forever.
Recent
Archive
2024
February
March
2023
February
September
November
December
2022
2021
January
March
August
September
2020
April
August
December
2019
July
September
Categories
no categories