I heard a song this morning entitled "According to God" by Beautiful Eulogy, a group my oldest son listens to. The chorus of the song says, "Who do you think you are?" Aside from being used in a snide way, it's a very important and legitimate question. Who we think we are has a lot to do with who we actually are. It dictates our thought-life and therefore our behavior.
I spent a good portion of my life with insecurities and extremely low self-esteem. I had no idea who I was, but I was sure that I was of little value. I treated myself cheaply, so everyone else did too (with the exception of a few family members who truly loved me). Once Christ got hold of me, He began working on changing what I thought of myself.
It was life and attitude-changing when I discovered who I truly am in Christ. Jesus gave me a whole new set of words with which to describe myself. Instead of a convicted sinner, I was forgiven - "Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:32 NLT). Instead of dead in my sin, I was alive in Christ - "So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus." (Romans 6:11 NLT). Instead of a slave to sin, I was Free and belonging to Christ - "And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death." (Romans 8:2 NLT). Instead of unrighteous, I was made holy - "I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours." (1 Corinthians 1:2 NLT). Instead of a loser, I was made triumphant - "But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume." (2 Corinthians 2:14 NLT). I was no longer the same confused, hurting little girl, but a new person - "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life
is gone; a new life has begun!" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)
I realized that I was more valuable than I could have ever thought possible and someone loves me enough to die for me and take upon Himself the wrath, of God that I deserved. I saw myself and my life through new eyes. I felt like a new person and I started acting like a new person. My life changed drastically. Am I perfect? Not even close! Am I BEING perfected? Absolutely! Is it difficult and painful at times? Without a doubt, AND it is absolutely worth it! Who I thought I was before Christ and who I think I am now, IN Christ is like night and day. It's like the difference between being sick and being healthy. It's why people like me want to tell the world about Jesus and what He did for us. Who wouldn't want to tout the benefits of the medicine that made them well? So, who do I think I am? Forgiven, healed, righteous, victorious, beloved daughter of THE KING. That's who I am, and I am who I am because of Jesus and the saving work He has done and continues to do in my life. Who do you think you are?
