Who Am I?

      There’s a great old Southern Gospel song with this title, asking the question that we as Christians can never explain—“who are we, that Christ would die for our salvation?”  Today, however, I ask this question with a different meaning.

      Many people struggle to find their identity—who they are, and what makes them unique.  Sometimes the world seems so big and the individual seems to disappear amidst celebrities, stand-outs, and those eccentric personalities that no one can ignore. 

      It’s easy to be lead into this trap of the enemy, who convinces us that we’re invisible, worthless, and unwanted.  Even as Christians, our identity can be blurred by the expectations of the world’s ideals, and it’s critical that we keep our focus on the Father and His Word to remember who we are at all times.

      We all have a cognitive understanding that as Christians, our identity is “A Child of God.”  However, sometimes the identity we assume becomes what we do, rather than who we are.  For example, a dedicated, loving pastor may become convinced that his worth, his being, is that of a pastor.  While it is true that his calling may be as a pastor, it is FALSE that his identity is “Pastor.”  It can extend to every type of calling, from missionary, to teacher, to church musician. 

      The enemy causes us to believe that what we do equals what we are, and that without that “thing,” our worth is void. 

      Why is this dangerous to the Christian?  It’s a lie and causes us to live defeated lives, feeling that if at any point, we cease to do that “thing” that seems to separate us from the rest, that is what everyone associates with our names, that we will, in a sense, cease to have purpose, even to exist!  Yes, God has called each of us to a purpose, whether teaching Sunday School, serving on the refreshment committee, or singing Gospel music.  But that’s only an occupation

      What we are is blessed, loved, children of a great Father who gave His Son so that we might be able to live free from the bondage of sin and live for eternity with Him.  It’s almost overwhelming to process in our finite minds. 

We are a new creation.  Our past is gone. “So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away – look, what is new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

We have victory over sin, death, and hell.  

We are the children of God.  Once we are adopted, we retain all the rights of a biological child.  Do you know what this means?  We have the rights of Christ!  We are heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven, righteous and good because of Christ’s sacrifice. 

Ephesians sums it all up: Chapter 1, verse 4 says, “For He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in His sight and love.”  Additionally, chapter 5 verses 1-2 gives us the admonishment: “Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.” 

And just as earthly parents love their earthly children regardless of their occupation, but  simply because they are their children, so God loves us, as His precious, blood-bought children.

Therefore, we all need to take a step outside of our activities sometimes and remember that what we do, no matter how important it may be, is merely what the Father gave us to do while on this earth, but that when all is said and done, all that matters is that we are the loved children of God.

Heather’s HeartNotes

            We’ve had a beautiful spring here in Northwest Georgia.  The azaleas I bought for my mom last Mother’s Day are just beautiful.  We’ve had rain, blue skies, and great temperatures.  It’s been very refreshing. 

            It’s so nice to be reminded that everything goes through a dry phase, even a time where it seems completely dead, but by the miraculous hand of God becomes vibrant and alive once more.

            What’s also been refreshing in my own life is the revived understanding that things aren’t all about me.  What I mean by this is that, as discussed in the article above, I have a tendency to get very bogged down in my “stuff.”  The things that I do that somehow I’ve equated to giving my life worth. 

            Whether it’s helping out with my church choir, doing administrative work for Pure Heart, or just trying to stay positive and perky, I can get rather distracted and get lost in a cycle of “doing”. 

            Sheila reminded me the other day of that great song When the Music Fades.  The first few lines of the chorus tell it all:

            I’m coming back to the heart of worship.

            And it’s all about You.  All about you, Jesus.

            I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it.

            When it’s all about You. 

It’s easy to make it about the things I do, rather than about Him, the reason I do what I do.  And while there’s no ill intent, or a conscious, purposeful morphing of my attitude to make me think this way, it happens because we’re human. 

The human tendency is to think that life is about titles, things and stuff, like jobs, cars, homes, and activities. 

What we must do as Christians is to actively keep our perspective on Christ and that our lives are comprised less of the tangible, and more of the meaningful, those things to which you cannot assign a price or value, for they are the invaluable traits of those things we call the fruits of the spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  For when these are present in our lives, Christ is Lord and all the rest is consequential.

Application Verse

Colossians 3: 12-16.  12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.