Jimbo's Jots

I’m sure we’ve had this conversation before. I’m almost positive we have. It is sometimes easy to fall into the trap of questioning who we are. Two times this past week, I was thinking about identity. The first was sitting in a counseling session with a client as we conversed about how the client saw themselves.

The other incident was watching a video Bible lesson in the teen class that I teach. The presenter was exploring the text in Matthew 16 where Jesus asks the disciples who people think he is. The answers he received were that Jesus was the reincarnation of dead prophets.

How would you like that answer? You say, “Who do people think I look/ sound like?” “Oh, you’re the spitting image of this dead relative!” And we think we’re weird!

Jesus then turns the tables on the apostles and asks them, “Who do you say that I am?” To which Peter replied, “You are the Christ.” This is significant! The region, Caesarea Philippi was home to many temples for the Roman and Greek God. By declaring this, Peter says, “You are the God above all other gods.” It was also built by the Roman Emperor as a show of power. By his declaration, Peter says, “You are the King of all kings.”

But Jesus wasn’t asking because he was interested in being popular. He was really seeing where His apostles were with their faith in Him.

I have seen over the past couple of weeks on social media a meme with “Describe me in one word.” And the real purpose is to see some level of acceptance and affirmation through those that we have contact with in the world of the socials. For years, research has been done to show the effect of social media, teens and adults and the effects on their sense of self value.

Something else I’ve seen is if you ask someone, “Who are you?” People will begin to tell you about their job, their family, their community. So, essentially, their identity is focused on what they do, where they live, how they were raised. So let’s start a new thing. I’m going to ask, “Who are you?” and let’s see if you can briefly tell me who you are without specifically starting with any of those areas. Let me start:

Hi! I am Jim! I am a child of God. I rely on the work of God to be seen in my life and I look for how God works in the lives of others. I live my life in various roles as I try to honor God in my life – I am a husband to my love on earth (34 years and counting), I am a father to three daughters of God, a “adopted” son, a son-in-law and two (3 on the way) blessings of grandchildren. I am also a brother to 4 living siblings. I have two main jobs – one is a minister and the other is a therapist. I trust in God to be faithful all of my life. I have been blessed and I try to be a blessing to others along the way.

Now you give it a try! And let me know who you are!

Be blessed!! Be a blessing along your way!!