Who are you?
Who are you?
Most of us would answer something to do with what we spend our time doing. What we might call our calling or vocation. “I am a doctor.” “I am a teacher.” “I am a mechanic.” Some of us would answer in terms of a relationship. “I am a mother.”, though increasingly I hear people who identify themselves in such a way actually describing what they do in that role rather than simply being that person. In other words, when I talk with people who say “I am a mother.”, I hear them describe what they do as a mother rather than simply the fact that they are a mother.
As a society, we increasingly see ourselves in terms of what we do. Fifty years ago this was seen primarily as a male perspective, but I believe we are drifting toward this perspective regardless of gender.
This is important to the disciple of Jesus because for many of us there comes a time when we are no longer what we used to be in terms of function. This could be because of finances, illness, injury, external forces, or even personal decision. But many, if not most of us, find ourselves doing something different than we used to.
Does this change who we are?
Christians are people who belong to Jesus. It is true that we do Christian things. We worship. We love one another. We obey our King. But these aren’t who we are, but what we do.
We are people who belong to Jesus.
Some struggle with this because they perceive what they do as God’s will for them. As a pastor for nearly 50 years I can identify with this! But contrary to the theology of ministry many have developed, ministry is no more definitive of who we are than any other occupation. It may reflect our gifts. We may even see it as God’s will for us. But scripturally, God calls us to belong to Jesus—and to become like Him—not to do something else. Even something else good, or something else good for the gospel!
We need to free ourselves from the tyranny of performance identity. Regardless of what we do, how we earn a living, or even what others see us as, we are defined by the one to whom we belong. Not because we deserve it. Not because we earned it. Not even because we chose it. We could choose Jesus, but if He didn’t choose us, it wouldn’t matter! We are defined not by accepting Jesus, but by Jesus accepting us. I don’t know about you, but as I strive to be who our Lord wants us to be, I find this amazingly comforting!
Know Jesus and Be Faithful!
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