If I asked you who you are, how would you answer? Are you defined by your profession? Are you single or married? Are you a wife, husband, mother or father? Are you defined by your hobby or activities? Are you a sports fanatic, a hunter, a cook, a writer or a gardener? Are you short or tall? Blonde or brunette? Christian, Muslim or atheist? The list goes on and on. The answer can be some, all or none of these things, but that is not who you are. Too often we are defined and identified by things in our life that are only a small part of who we are. In our highly “technologically” connected society, we are sometimes known more for what we are against than who we are. Our political affiliations, our heritage, our afflictions, our issues and our opinions are all more visible to others than the person that we are. We wear these like a badge, ready to debate and hate when the opportunity arises. We should take a stand on things that affect us and we can control, but we cannot let them define who we are.

I have to love everyone and accept the fact that some people are going to disagree with me on almost everything. I also have to remember that I can still love them even if we disagree. Social media and the news media have polarized us into thinking that everything needs to be a fight. I have fought enough over stupid things in my life and I am over that. I still may disagree and offer an opposing viewpoint because honest discussion and debate are still valuable tools for growth. I can’t place my identity in any of these things. If they identify me then I lose who I am! My identity comes from one place, that I am a child of God. Jesus never said we would have it easy. In fact he said we would be persecuted and face many trials. God loves us too much to leave us as we are. He will continue to grow us into who we need to be, but my true identity was established long ago on a cross.

1 John 3:1-3