Who Are You?

Having been a teacher for many years, either in a classroom setup, training people or being trained, the question so often asked of those in the room on the first day is, "Who are you?"

One may be quick to answer with your name, followed by what you do, look like or choice of career or status. Yet, who I am, who we are as a child of God and how He sees us is very different to the way the world sees us.

1 Samuel 16 vs 7 reads, 'But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his outward appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

If my value and identity was based on appearance, status or possessions, what would happen if I was born disfigured or ugly? The world may say that I have little hope of any success in this life, but that would be unfair, wrong, as it was not my choice. What if I had been gifted with a beautiful voice and then lost the ability to sing, or was a sports celebrity and lost an arm or a leg and could no longer play sport? Would I be of less value?

Who you are is far more than what you see on the outside. In 2 Corinthians 5:16, Paul a disciple of Jesus, said that we "recognise no man according to the flesh".

Neil Anderson said, "What you do does not determine who you are, but Who You Are, determines what you do." You cannot change a child's behaviour in the class by reprimanding or shouting at them. You may get some kind of immediate response, but permanent change happens when a faulty belief system is addressed. What we believe about ourselves will come out in our behaviour. You cannot walk inconsistently with what you believe about yourself. Proverbs 23 verse 7 says, "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he". Change the belief system, and the behaviour will change. From worthless to worthy, from hopeless to hopeful, from sinner to saint, only He can change the heart of man.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to see myself through Your eyes as one who is worthy, secure, loved and acknowledge by You, not because of anything I have done, but because of Who You are and the great price paid for me at Calvary by Your Son, Jesus Christ.

In Jesus name, Amen