Remembering Who and Whose You Are
by Lynda Faber
A long time ago, I heard a father share how each time his son went out the door, he said, “Son, as you go out tonight I want you to remember who and whose you are.” Each time the son would answer, “Yes dad, I will.”
After hearing this story, I thought what you are probably thinking right now, “So??” But as I thought about it further and how it related to my life, I got it. I understood.
Who am I?
I am Lynda Faber, daughter of Don and Kay Slater, employee of Kalamazoo Christian Schools, wife of Wayne, mother of Joel and Rachel, member of Third CRC, piano player, youth group leader….
And while all these things or people bring meaning into my life, ALL of them, at some time, could be taken away from me. So who am I really? If I can only describe myself by things that are guaranteed to never change, what am I left with? Only one thing, that I am a Christian.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade – kept in heaven for you.” (I Peter 1:3)
Did you hear that last phrase? “Into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade”? Wow! I’ve been disappointed many times in life by things that perish, spoil and fade. Sometimes it’s something as small as getting a Christmas present that I thought would be the greatest, and it breaks the first time I use it. Sometimes it’s as big as friends or family members who betray me, let me down, or even die.
But I will always be a Christian. I will never be let down or disappointed by Christ. He will always be there for me, and His promise of a heavenly inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade is looking better and better each and every day.
Whose am I?
I Corinthians 6:20 answers this question clearly, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” If Christ bought me, I am His. I belong to Him. And I Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God….” Chosen, royal, holy, belonging - are you feeling treasured yet? I do! God loves you and me so much. We are very precious to Him!
But it doesn’t end there. Feeling good about being loved and cherished by God isn’t the end-all.
“As obedient children, do not conform to evil desires…but just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.” (I Peter 1:14-15)
I Peter is a great book! It’s not the easiest book in the Bible to read, but it’s filled with great ways to live out being holy. I encourage you to take time to read through it once or twice this month. Maybe even pick a different translation each time you read it, to help you understand it better. And feel free to ask your parents, Shari or any of us other youth leaders about verses you don’t understand.
Wrapping it up
If I am a Christian and belong to Christ, as His child I am called to live completely and totally for Him. Not just on Sunday in church, not just at home with my family, but everywhere – at school, at basketball games, at parties, when participating in sports, at the mall, when hanging with friends….
So I’m going to challenge YOU that as you go out today, “Remember who and whose you are!”
If I am a Christian and belong to Christ, as His child I am called to live completely and totally for Him. Not just on Sunday in church, not just at home with my family, but everywhere – at school, at basketball games, at parties, when participating in sports, at the mall, when hanging with friends….
So I’m going to challenge YOU that as you go out today, “Remember who and whose you are!”