Who are you? Who, who, who, who?” These opening lyrics of a classic pop song are more than just lines from a catchy tune. The lyrics actually raise a key question: Do you know who you really are?
It’s an important question. And answering it isn’t as simple as rattling off your name, where you live, and what you do for a living. You are more than the basic information found on your driver’s license—a lot more. To truly answer the question, you have to put away your driver’s license and pull out your Bible.
For starters, the opening pages of the Bible tell us that we bear the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). In fact, human beings are the only part of His creation to hold the distinct honor of being created in God’s likeness. Unlike a thundering herd of wild horses or a snow-capped mountain or a constellation of stars in the night sky, we carry around the dignity of being marked by the image of God.
The Bible also tells us that “we are [God’s] offspring” (Acts 17:28). In other words, we are precious children of the King of the universe. Amazing! Who we are is wrapped up in the truth that we are people created in His image, who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. We can walk in the peace and the joy and the purpose of our new life in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17).
It’s important that these answers resonate with your own understanding of who you are in Jesus. Much is riding on how you answer the question at the start of this article. If you don’t know who you really are, you will continue to live in lesser ways than God intended for you.
So, who are you?
More:
Because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6).
Next:
What wrong views of who you are have you been harboring? How does your view of God affect your view of yourself?
Chew Keng Sheng on September 25, 2009 at 6:21 am
Sometimes when I look at the evil, injustice, corruption, inequality of treatment, dirty political tactics, both in my country and around the world, I get very dejected, discouraged, and disappointed. Is there any reason for living in my country? Yet, these verses show us that:
“11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed…”
We are INSTRUCTED, we are commanded, we are exhorted to live a life of
– wisdom
– righteous
– devoted to God.
Why? Because of the hope we have in Jesus Christ.
I agree with your comment, Jeff: Unless we know who we really are, our identity, and our position, we can be easily swayed away.
isabelle on September 25, 2009 at 10:54 am
A beautiful message Jeff. It hit me that I have never pondered very much about my existence till now……….
WHO AM I?
I am still discovering that as I go through each day, He wants to reveal the real me. How does He do that? He allows me to go through trials, harsh words, difficult people and all kinds of sufferings. He wants to refine me in fire and make me like pure gold.
I guess as we bear His image, NEVER take anyone or anything for granted. I want to know my destiny as I walk with Him. To have a sense of purpose in all that we do, we’ll do things better.
I realised because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
jeff olson on September 25, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Good thoughts…Yes, it’s a life-long process coming to know who we truly are. Thankfully, God is very kind and patient…But we can’t really live for Him and others if we remain in the dark. And we’ll likely end up settling for a life that is either trivial and/or full of deep regrets.
mtshawaii on September 25, 2009 at 3:21 pm
I’m in the midst of a dream casting session with a friend/mentor. This question recently came up. Who am I? It stopped me dead in my tracks. I couldn’t answer.
It’s easy to answer “What am I?” Son, husband, father, etc. But who? I dunno.
Add to this the fact that I’m almost 50 and looking for a new job. It’s a life-challenging question.
Part of my time is spent in marketing. If I say “Kleenex,” you know I’m referring to facial tissue. If I say “Toyota,” you think of cars & trucks. If I say “Steve Jobs,” you think Apple or Mac.
To answer it from that perspective, when people think of me, what comes to mind? I don’t know if I know or if there’s a clear-cut answer from even my closest friends or family.
Very provocative devotional today.
Thanks!
elisau on October 1, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Who you are is not about what you do. God has a plan for your life (and for mine).
Romans 5:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
I am here for God’s glory! He created us and sustains us because He loves us. (Present tense.) He wants to bring us into relationship with him. So that when this life is over we will be able to be with him for all eternity. Amen!!
Philippians 3:10-11 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.