Who Am I? (Part 1)

We define ourselves in a variety of ways: by our profession, ("I'm a nurse, a teacher, a writer", etc.); by where we live, (I'm a Texan, I'm Irish, I'm a Filipino) or even by the sports teams we support (I'm a Longhorn, an Aggie, a Falcon).  These are easy ways to identify ourselves to others, but we know that those labels don't really define who we are.  If we decide to dig deeper into who we really see ourselves as being, we begin to look at heritage, our family for instance; or our life experiences, particularly the very trying times that seem to define who we are.  Or we go to our "world view," our picture of the universe that we perceive and how we see ourselves existing within that universe.

In his poem, "To a Louse," Robert Burns (1786) expressed the idea that it would be a huge advantage (and revelation) to us if some "Power" would give us the gift to "see oursels as ithers see us!" (to see ourselves as others see us).  He goes on to say that it would free us from many blunders and foolish notions.

Not surprisingly, that "Power" has done exactly that;  given us someone who can reveal to us who we really are.  In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul writes these words:  "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works so that no one can boast.  For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Ephesians 2:  8-10. NIV

Let's unpack that a bit so that we can really see what it is that Paul is saying about our true identities.  I actually think that the New King James Version makes the passage a little clearer.  "For by Grace you have been saved by faith, and that is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God."  We tend to think, "I see that the Grace that saves me comes entirely from God, but the faith that I have to believe in Christ, that comes from me." "No," the writer is saying, "the faith that you have to believe has also been given to you by God."  "Then, surely," we think, "the good works that I do, the selfless things, the sacrificial things, the kind things; surely that comes from me."  Read on.  "And not by works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Eph 2: 8-10 NKJV

So there it is.  That's who we are.  People loved dearly by God, saved to Him for all time by His Grace through faith in Christ, and given good things to do and simply told to go "walk in them."  Another way to say that might be, "Go live it!"  We have been given Grace, Faith, and Works to do.  We know who we are.  Now, go live it.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of "Who am I?"