Who Are You?

In the fifth grade, we had to write about who we were for a class project. Naturally, for that age, we all wrote about our families and our ancestry. As seniors in high school we all had to write about who we were for college application essays. Naturally, for that assignment, we all wrote about our dreams and passions. In college I’ve had to write about who I am for job application cover letters. Naturally, for that pursuit, I wrote about my experience and accomplishments.

If you are reading this, you probably have a Facebook. Under your profile you have an “About” section. Most of us fill that with some cliches about experiencing life or a fun quote or something, and there’s nothing wrong with that. What is your answer, though, when someone asks you who you are? Do you tell them about your family? Your passions? Your accomplishments?

You probably know where I’m going with this, but let me challenge you to think about that answer. What would it mean to tell the world that your family is Christ’s, your passions are Christ’s and your accomplishments are Christ’s? What would it mean to believe those things?

The fact of the matter is that we are children of God (John 1:11), co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17) and citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20). We are Christ’s passion: precious, honored and loved by God (Isaiah 43:4), His friends (John 15:15) and worth dying for (Ephesians 5:25). We are the accomplishments of Christ, who purchased us (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), called us to His purpose (Romans 8:28), justified us (Romans 5:1), redeemed us with a guarantee of His promise in the Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:21-22) to finish His work in us (Philippians 1:6) and made perfect through His sacrifice (Hebrews 10:14).

Children of God, loved by God, and made perfect to God, all through Christ. Whether you’ve been a Christian for hours or for decades, those statements will never lose their power. What would it look like to live like that, though?

My dad always reminded me, when I was younger, that I had family name. Everything I did, reflected on my family and, so I had a responsibility to make my family proud. He was right (2 Corinthians 5:20). What would it be like to live every moment to make our Father proud?

He would remind me to that we always become our passions. What we pursued would dictate what we became. He was right (Ephesians 2:10). What would it be like to live our lives with the passion Christ had for our lives?

He also reminded me that a man is only as good as his actions. Everything we did became a part of who we are to the world. He was right (2 Corinthians 12:9). What would it look like to live with the confidence of being perfected through Christ?

Discussion points:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 says:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
How can we live that out?

In our society, we are being constantly compared to those around us. What should our inward response (what we say to ourselves) and our outward response (what we say to the world) be? Should we tell the world that we are “perfect” and that they need to repent so that they can be perfect too? Is there a better response?

At some point, everyone struggles with depression, disappointment, or discouragement. How can we reach out to our “family” to overcome these? Are these things we should combat alone?

If we are co-heirs to the Kingdom, that makes all Christians Princes and Princesses. Besides Christ giving His life for us and washing the feet of His followers, what other differences are there in our royalty from the world’s view of royalty?

Who are you?