Am I who I say I am, or am I who you say I am? This is an interesting question to pose to people. I recently posted this question on my facebook status and I received quite a few replies.
Everyone sees me (and you) through their own pair of glasses. To my Dad I am "daughter" to my family I am "the youngest." To unbelievers who know me well I am that person who is a little odd, or even a fool. To my employer I am "reliable" and "responsible." To my children I am "Mom" and to my husband I am "wonderful wife" and "cutie."
I also have a dimension that is public because of speaking, writing and counseling. To those who hear me or read what I write I am perhaps an authority on biblical counseling, someone you have come to trust, a truth-teller, or a minster of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
So, which of these is me? In truth you already know they are all a part of who I am and each of you has a different expectation of me according to the relationship you have with me.
Who do I say I am? I think the answer to the question lay within the Word of God.
First, I am a sinner. I have been a sinner my whole life and I will be a sinner until I die. I have been in the process of sanctification for 24 years, being less and less like the sinner I once was and becoming more and more like Christ. (Romans 5:12, 13)
I am redeemed. Jesus chose to redeem me before the beginning of time and I live this life in the shadow of His glorious grace, which has been bestowed on me through no merit of my own. (Ephesians 1)
I am justified. I have been declared "guilty" and my guilt and sin debt has been absolved. I stand blameless before God, by His grace and mercy. (Romans 3:28)
Is that how you see me? That is how I see myself...and because of those truths I am not subjected to rigorous perfectionistic standards or legalism that some want to foist upon me. (Romans 4, 5)
We live free under grace and truth, but not to indulge our flesh or wantonly sin although only a fool would say those things don't happen from time to time. But we are not marked by them or are we identified by them. Why then do people seek to capitalize on our failures? Always waiting for the "A-ha!" moment? (Romans 6:1)
Surely this grieves the heart of the Lord as it grieves us! (Galatians 2) Dear Readers, be gentle and kind to one another, bear with one another, and share each others burdens. Do not be so quick to judge and strike out at one another. You will never understand another persons trials until you walk in their shoes. Love freely and deeply, love and give grace overflowing as the same is bestowed on you.