Who are you?

Who are you? 

 

You’ve been a Christian since childhood or: 

You just found Christ yesterday.

You’re looking for a “real” church.

You don’t even know who Jesus is.

 

You are a Minister or:

A Deacon.

A pew warmer.

An Elder. 

 

You have a Degree or:

No formal education.

A Certificate.

A lifetime of learning.

 

Your family is “old money” or:

You are “self-made”.

You make minimum wage.

You are jobless.   

 

Who you are starts with how you love. 

 

Here’s the thing.  It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’ve been.  Your color doesn’t matter.  Your gender doesn’t matter.  Your bank account doesn’t matter (it really doesn’t).  Your education doesn’t matter (the most expensive education in the world can’t buy wisdom). 

 

We all want to hear “Well done” when we stand before our Father.  But it won’t be our accomplishments on earth, how much money we’ve accumulated, or how much we stood for a “cause”.  It won’t be our priceless collections or how much we prayed, cried, or shouted Jesus’ name! We won’t be praised for being poor to prove we don’t love money, and we won’t be praised for being rich because we have “named it and claimed it”.

 

The simple truth is:

 

The love we have for Him while we are on earth will be proven by the love we have for each other, and it’s not that easy to love each other sometimes.  But it is required.  Here are some steps to get started:

 

• Love yourself first.  (This is the hardest part, but if you get this right, I guarantee, the rest comes easier). God is our creator, and He makes no mistakes.  Once you said yes to Christ, your inheritance was assured. 

 

• Love your family.  (Yes. Even the ones you don’t want to claim, because without Jesus, none of us would be redeemed).  Redeem those difficult family members back into your heart.

 

• Love your church.  Even if you don’t understand or agree with everything that goes on, don’t leave in frustration.  Seek the wisdom of those showing fruit. Pray and ask the Lord to show you how to serve instead of praying for the Lord to show others how to serve. 

 

• Love your community.  The church building is meant to be the starting point- not the ending point in your service as a Christian.  Take your faith and reach out to others who need to be shown Christ-like love.

 

• Love the lost.  They are hurting, ignorant of the love of Christ, searching, and in danger of eternal death.  They need to see Christ’s love.  You may be the only “Christ” they see.  Will they see Him in you?

 

Who we are in the world, how we make our living, our upbringing-those things are important-but not as important as our identity in Christ.  When people see us, they should see Christ in our lifestyle. The love we have for Him and for each other-pure unconditional love.

Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV)

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^{[a] 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^{[b] 40} All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

 

Blessings! 

Sharon