How do you identify? James, no.20
- Christine DiGiacomo
- Jul 12
- 4 min read
'How do you identify?' What a question!
But first, these Morning Briefings are intended to help you start your day with God--drawn from Scripture, with application and music - sent 3 days a week, going out internationally. You could read or listen one day, and the next morning just revisit, and take a closer look at the included Scripture.
-->>The Word of God enlightens, transforms and instructs us.
So... 'How do you identify?' Who knew it would ever come to this? Turns out it is a loaded question. But, I have been thinking about this a lot, especially with regard to James.
Think of it: James identified himself as a 'servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,' though he could have opened his letter with authority, 'from James, pontiff of the Jerusalem Church,' but he did not.
How do you identify? Or, who are you, really? This is another subject that I could lie awake and ponder, and bat around in conversation with other people too. But here's the thing - even if we have interviewed ourself, discussed what is at play with others, and perhaps even given them permission to tell us what they see in us (whoa now), is that who we truly are? Hmmm.
While we might get closer to understanding ourselves by such a conversation, our knowledge of who we are and additionally who we are meant to be, would be incomplete.
Come with me back to my longtime home and neighborhood in beautiful San Clemente, California. . .
For two decades, I lived a few doors down from a talented artist named Liz who worked with various media. While I certainly love her unique jewelry, my favorite of her works is that of a sculpted woman's torso, cast in soft blues and aquas, with a skirt of many strands of translucent precious stones. I only really learned about the fine sculpted lady when I asked the artist, Liz, about her, and what she had in mind when she shaped her.
You see--
Only the Artist knows what she had in mind when sculpting that piece…
Only the painter knows the perspective from which he painted that seascape…
Only the Author knows the story meant for each of his subjects...
The song, The Author, captures this in part:
Truly, only the Creator knows what he had in mind when he made you.
Truth.
Friend, Paul said you are a masterpiece - a beautiful work of art. Who can tell of your worth and your purpose? Only One.
So what has the Creator said of who you are and who you are meant to be?
You, my friend, were--
--Created in God’s image. Genesis 1.26-28
--Formed in your mothers’ womb. Psalm 139.13-16
--Designed with a purpose, even before you drew a breath. Ephesians 2.10
--Given free will to act upon these truths. Galatians 5.1
--Made fully free - from yourself and from your sin - in Jesus Christ. John 8.32
--Commanded to love the Lord and your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12.30-31
--Intended to have Jesus’ attitude of humility: Philippians 2.5-8
[link below for all of these Scriptures]
Seeing ourselves as God sees us gives us a proper view of ourselves. Only He can give us our worth; any thing other than that falls woefully short.
A proper view of ourselves is a humble one as well, and it is a choice we make to come humbly... Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up. James 4.10
We know when we encounter the greatness of humility in someone. [read that again] I can still remember when I learned the Kenosis Theory (self emptying) in college - Philippians chapter 2. This passage about Jesus, written by Paul, made a huge impact on me. This is a passage we ought have underlined in our Bibles, starting in verse 5: Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in human appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross!
Hmmm. . . Have the same attitude as Jesus: humility. That is good.
It is not surprising then that it was Jesus who said that the greatest commandment was 'to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, strength... and the second commandment was like it, love your neighbor as yourself.' (Mark 12.30, 31)
So then, how do you identify? Who are you? You are a person of inestimable worth because you were created by God, loved by God, extended His grace, invited into relationship with him to live with him forever! That is what gives you your worth.
It is good and right to have a proper view of one’s self . . . humility.
Humility is not lousy self esteem or the lack of confidence.
Humility is not thinking less of
yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Rather than asking 'how you identify', most of you will more likely be asked 'hey, tell me about yourself!' How would/do you answer? "Well, I am ___________________"
Think for a moment--so many of us identify ourselves first by our roles, perhaps relationships to others. As I write just now, I believe we ought first lead with our orientation to Jesus Christ, and from that, perhaps our roles flow, as they ought capture our purpose and priorities . . . right?
Should you change how you think of yourself . . . how you identify?
Right thinking about yourself is
knowing that
you were created by God
as a unique individual,
meant for relationship with him
and a magnificent purpose.
Please listen to one more song: Who Am I? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rT8Re1EIQc
Identity: knowing yours is vital.
Christine
Scripture cited above - what God says about us:
-->>when you open the link, scroll down to consider each scripture.
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