Who we are
Hello friends! There has been a lot of change in many areas of my life lately and looking at the future I only see more change coming. So how do we navigate through change with joy? I think to answer that we have to look to who or whom we place our value in.
I was reading in Luke when Jesus was asking his disciples who the crowds say he is in relation to verse 9:20, “But what about you? He asked, who do you say I am?” Jesus is asking his disciples who do they say he is. As I thought about this question it led me to think who do I say I am and who would others say I am? Do my actions reflect and represent the light of Jesus or am I that person that everyone wants to avoid. I think there is value in asking this question, but we have to be careful not to get too wrapped up in the answer of what the world says. I have a tendency to be a people pleaser. It is something I am continually working on. So, when I ask this question, I have to make sure that I’m not placing too much value in what the world says, but rather in what the Lord says. We have to know who we are and who’s we are.
In Ephesians, Paul is writing to a new church that is being planted in Ephesus. This was a very happening city, but not a city that was ideal or open to the message of Jesus. Paul’s letter to Ephesus is encouraging and instructional. Paul reminds us that we are redeemed and for this reason we need to be thankful. While we were once dead in our sin, we are made alive through Christ Jesus. That God is our peace, strength, and wisdom. Friends, our identity should be in Christ. Ephesians 4:17-19, “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.”
Once we know who God is, we find the answer to who we are and who we are not. We have to put on our armor daily as the influences of this world are strong, but sisters nothing is stronger than our God. Christ is our constant. The word of God is unchanging. He does not wavier. So in the midst of our constantly changing world, we can be sure that the truth of the gospel will not change. It is here friends, that we will find guidance, joy, and peace. It is here that we will have our victory.
Dear Lord, open our eyes to see your truth. Father in times of change we run to you. I pray today that each person reading this will know that they are chosen by you to do a mighty work. Help us to hold on to that knowing that what you start in us you will bring to completion. It’s in your name I pray, Amen.