Identity is a big deal in our day- but it has always been that way.
In the West in the 60s and 70s people talked about trying "to find myself." Peter Jenkins has a great book about walking across America trying to find himself.
In older times, people talked about being "lost." Not lost physically, or emotionally, or socially, but spiritually. Tolkien reminds us that "not all who wander are lost." Yet, many who wander are also wondering and seeking for an answer to life and to why they are here and who they are.
Certainly the Bible gives an answer to who we are and why we are. We are all valuable and loved (according to the scriptures). We are not haphazard accidents of the universe, but made by a loving Creator. Scripture tells us we are made in His image. That alone makes us valuable and Genesis infers that means God cares for us and asks us at least not to kill each other- but also to respect (Jesus said anyone who says "you fool" has already committed murder in their heart- Mt. 5:22). We are valuable also because God loves us. We are the object of his love- the apple of his eye (Ps. 17:8; Prov. 7:2; Zech. 2:8). If God, as our father, siblings all are we- so we should love one another- our neighbor as ourselves. Christ also died for us out of love (1 Cor. 6:20, 7:23). If we appreciate His infinite-worth-sacrifice- the price of a life and a person is invaluable. Therefore we are invaluable. So: 1) His image; 2) His love; 3) His sacrifice means we are loved- along with "The Bible tells me so."
In our baptism, we are identified- given a name- and claimed as a part of His family. We are therefore called to remember who we are and whose we are. For Christians, we are all given special gifts, put in a special place at a certain time (Esther 4:14; Acts 17:26) to answer God's specific call (vocation) upon our lives. Our main goal is to glorify God and enjoy God forever. This is everyone's general calling.
Sometimes we can get distracted by stuff, by desires, by even good things (or misplaced loves). Not all that/who we love is good just because we love it/them. Jesus reminds us "what good is to gain the whole world and lose your soul?" (Mark 8:36). It is important to keep or fix our eyes on Jesus- the prize.
So don't forget who you are and whose you are. We are kept by God (Nbrs 6; salm 121). This not only means we are protected by God- that we don't get destroyed. It also means our identity or soul will not get destroyed. God's love for us (in general but also as a particular person) never fades or disappears. My next blog is about how our identity or soul goes on into eternity...
Prayer: Thank you that you have given me a reason to be and a reason to invest myself in you. Thank you that though all my earthly causes will crumble, my eternal value never does. Give me the grace to find not only my value but the value of others in you.
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