Who do you think you are

{Carrying on our recent trend of introducing new contributors, today’s devotional thoughts come from Sam Wells, a medical student and part-time farmer from Moira}
So maybe you don’t go around breaking people’s hearts but sometimes it can still be good to ask ourselves the question ‘Who am I?’  This is questioning our identity and our identity should be in Christ.  In Him we can be who we were made to be.
Recently have I told at least three people to stop caring what other people think. We too often worry so much about what others think of us that it stops us being who we should be in Christ. Maybe it stops you from using your God given talents, for standing up for what you believe or from talking about your faith.
We should not be like this! When studying a passage from the book of Daniel I was told that the name of Daniel means ‘God is my judge’. I began to think about the different attitude could be brought about by just thinking about this. If God is our judge we should do things for Him and Him alone. He also gives us the power to do the things He has called us to do. We shouldn’t be afraid to use our where and whenever we can for His glory. We shouldn’t be afraid to make a stand and be different even/especially among Christians! We shouldn’t be afraid to tell everyone we meet about what we believe.
‘For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God’ 1 Corinthians 1:18
Our identity should be in Christ not in what other think of us. In Christ I am a Christian, without Christ I am left with I, A, N – I am nobody.  It is only through Christ’s death and resurrection that God can use my weak, sinful and timid life for good. How many times have you heard this quote and not done anything about it?

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Marianne Williamson

So we should be the ones to stand, to change a conversation before it descends to the gutters, to give an alternative to watching that dodgy film and to be a shining light. Not that we are better or holier but because we are not afraid, we have the power of God and we are going to start to live like it!
‘Be strong and courageous’ Joshua 1:9
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14.