Who are you?
At the heart of each person's consciousness is the concept of their identity. We each speak, dress, handle relationships and process information in our own unique ways. We each live out our lives in the manner that defines who we really are. Our identity determines our lives. Each person's identity is shaped by their genetic make up and by environmental nurturing, the age old twin concepts of nature and nurture. Scientists have believed and taught this idea for centuries. What they have not agreed on however is the relative amount that genes and societal guidance contribute to an individual's personality. Some say that we're mostly genes, others say that we're mostly the product of our environment and some say that the answer lies somewhere in-between.
I believe that the answer lies further that both these arguments. I believe that God created each person with a unique identity and that this personality may become submerged or tinted by life experiences. However, when an individual discovers the love of God and he or she develops a relationship with God, this personality is rescued and once again becomes the dominant part of the individual's life. Moreover, I firmly believe that you can discover who God made you to be on the pages of the word of God, the Bible. Let me explain.
In John chapter 1, verses 19-23 some people asked John the baptist the question, 'who are you?' In response, John provided a direct quotation from the book of Isaiah chapter 40 verse 3. And he was dead accurate. He indeed was the Voice of one crying in the wilderness, "prepare the Lord's way!" The apostle Paul saw himself as God's mesenger to the gentiles because of the words that God spoke to him at the time that he met Christ, but also because he located his identity and his life's work in God's word, similar to how John the baptist perceived himself. In Romans chapter 15, verse 21 Paul stated the guiding principle that defined his life ministry. "But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand," referring again to his mission to the gentiles, those "who have not heard" anout God. Notice the words that I emphasized: as it is written. As it is written. These words were also always the modus operandi, the operating style of our Lord Jesus. He lived His life as it is written (see Matthew 4:4-7 , Mark 14:21 and Luke 19:46).
There is a passage of scipture that I will quote here. It is in Colossians chapter 3 verse 3.
"For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God."
Your old identity before you knew Christ is dead. Your real life is now hidden with Christ in God. I heard a dear mentor say this a long time ago, and I agree, that since Jesus Christ is the living Word of God (John 1:1-4 and John 1:14) who's life is encoded in the Bible, the written word of God, if we are hidden in the living word, we are also hidden in the written word. My life purpose, my identity, my whole being is engraved in the written word of God, the Bible. If I take time to study the Bible, I will discover my true identity and like John the baptist and Paul, I will be able to speak with confidence when next someone asks me the question, Who are you?
I believe that the answer lies further that both these arguments. I believe that God created each person with a unique identity and that this personality may become submerged or tinted by life experiences. However, when an individual discovers the love of God and he or she develops a relationship with God, this personality is rescued and once again becomes the dominant part of the individual's life. Moreover, I firmly believe that you can discover who God made you to be on the pages of the word of God, the Bible. Let me explain.
In John chapter 1, verses 19-23 some people asked John the baptist the question, 'who are you?' In response, John provided a direct quotation from the book of Isaiah chapter 40 verse 3. And he was dead accurate. He indeed was the Voice of one crying in the wilderness, "prepare the Lord's way!" The apostle Paul saw himself as God's mesenger to the gentiles because of the words that God spoke to him at the time that he met Christ, but also because he located his identity and his life's work in God's word, similar to how John the baptist perceived himself. In Romans chapter 15, verse 21 Paul stated the guiding principle that defined his life ministry. "But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand," referring again to his mission to the gentiles, those "who have not heard" anout God. Notice the words that I emphasized: as it is written. As it is written. These words were also always the modus operandi, the operating style of our Lord Jesus. He lived His life as it is written (see Matthew 4:4-7 , Mark 14:21 and Luke 19:46).
There is a passage of scipture that I will quote here. It is in Colossians chapter 3 verse 3.
"For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God."
Your old identity before you knew Christ is dead. Your real life is now hidden with Christ in God. I heard a dear mentor say this a long time ago, and I agree, that since Jesus Christ is the living Word of God (John 1:1-4 and John 1:14) who's life is encoded in the Bible, the written word of God, if we are hidden in the living word, we are also hidden in the written word. My life purpose, my identity, my whole being is engraved in the written word of God, the Bible. If I take time to study the Bible, I will discover my true identity and like John the baptist and Paul, I will be able to speak with confidence when next someone asks me the question, Who are you?
posted by Shegs at 5:22 AM
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