Identity - Who am I?

Have you seen the new International Delight commercials on television? A security guard or police officer asks a woman for id, she pulls out a quart-sized bottle from her purse and offers him International Delight creamer for his coffee and he forgets her offense. This is pretty far-fetched, seriously if we could get out of traffic violations with coffee creamer – “What a wonderful world it would be?”


It did make me think though, what is my id? I don’t mean my name – I mean – who am I? Who do people say I am? 

Most of the time if you ask for my identity I will tell you “I am a teacher” and while this is true – it is only part of the story. See I am also a wife, daughter, sister, friend and aunt. (I have the most beautiful niece and she is smart!) Yet I don’t often think of those other titles. I am also an American, a Christian and a fat, white woman. :)

A couple weeks ago in church our Pastor and Youth Pastor were co-preaching and somehow the account of the “Rich Young Ruler” was mentioned. (You can find the story in Mark 10:17 – 27.) The man approached Jesus and asked how he could inherit eternal life. He had kept all of the commandments since he was a boy. Jesus looked at him, assessing the person, and said “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” The Bible tells us that the man went away sad, because he had many properties. He was wealthy. I mean, the title of the account, is “The Rich Young Ruler.” 

Our youth pastor said, “God attacked the man’s identity – to follow Christ we have to be willing to die to our self and pick up our cross and follow Him.” 

Earlier this year, my teaching was under attack at school. I couldn’t understand how I went from being a teacher of the year finalist to being under this humiliating scrutiny. When I had gone through this process, our principal said, “I think you having to do all of this was a ‘fluke’.” I smiled and hugged her, happy to be free from the scrutiny. Later I was angry – but when I considered the words of our youth pastor, “God attacked the man’s identity.” It all made sense. 

My identity is to be a child of God; a sinner saved by grace; a disciple of Jesus. My identity needs to come from who God is – not what I do; not what I believe I am good at; not who I know on earth. My identity needs to be Christ! When people see me, they should see Jesus. 

Which brings me to the question, “who are you?”