Who You Say I Am
“Oh, you’re the pastor’s wife.”
“Um, professor. I heard you were a hard grader.”
“Isn’t he the one who flunked math?”
“Who does she think she is, taking over the club like that?”
“She’s retired. She can help us out. She has a lot of free time.”
“He’s the middle child. He’s the mediator.”
“She’s not reliable. She’s always late.”
“Didn’t he just get out of prison? I don’t want to hire him.”
We hear, send, and receive messages every day. People who know us well, and those who barely know us at all, make statements about us based on judgements which may or may not have any validity. We have heard messages about who we are from our family since we were young. One of the things I miss about my parents is their relentless, positive, encouraging messages. No matter what new project or undertaking I was involved in, they would invariably give me positive feedback, telling me I was capable, challenging me to do my best. When I told my parents I wanted to go to Kenya on a short-term missions trip when I was 20, my dad got me a book on the Maasai and signed it “to my adventurous daughter.” I am well aware that many people did not receive these kinds of messages growing up. Many of us were told we wouldn’t amount to much, we couldn’t do what we planned to do, we weren’t capable.
Thank God we can know who we are in Him. These are some of the messages God gives us; this is who He says we are:
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36
If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. John 15:19
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Ephesians 1:7
We are free; we are chosen; we are forgiven. Let’s meditate on who we are in Christ. “Whom the son sets free, is free indeed, I’m a child of God, Yes I am” (“Who You Say I Am, Hillsong Worship).
Praise God.
I am grateful that I had very encouraging parents. I miss talking to them. Thank you for the reminder that we are set free in Christ.
Thanks, Iris. And remembering how encouraging our parents are can help us be more encouraging to our own children. I have to remind myself of that many times.