As I was reading through an old journal, I ran across this gem “The important question is not WHO you are, but WHOSE you are”. A few months ago in Walmart, this 90+-year-old lady that was stooped over her cart kept staring at me. I asked her if she needed help reaching something. (Now I’m not tall, but since she seemed not to be 5 ft, I figured odds were better I could reach something!) She said “Oh, no, sorry, I didn't need anything. But I have to ask you, are you related to Helen Meredith?” I was a little surprised by the question, but replied “Yes, she was my grandmother”. She said “I knew it! You look so much like her! So, is your mom Linda or Gladys? You look like them.” I told her that Gladys was my mom. She smiled and went on to tell me that she thought they were both very sweet and nice people. I agreed. :) And then she went on her way.
I smiled, did the rest of my shopping, smiling while checking out and driving home. My mom and my grandma were 2 of my most favorite people on Earth! I realized, though, this lady never asked my name & I shamefully didn't ask hers). So it hit me that she doesn't know WHO I am, but she knows WHOSE I am.
This relates to our spiritual life. The most important questions - “WHOSE am I? Who do I belong to?” In order to know my identity, I have to know who I belong to. Yes, I am a person who stumbles & fails more often than I wish to admit. But I belong to the Most High King! I have been bought by the blood of the slain Lamb!! Jesus says “She is Mine! I paid the price for her, she has given her life to me. She is Mine!” As believers, we are called to be “in” this world, but not “of” it.
I will never tire of being told I resemble Mom & Grandma, or that I act/sound like Mom & Grandpa because of how much I loved them. But, how much more awesome is it when someone says “Are you a Christian? I see Jesus in you. Your actions are so much like His and your words sound like His.”?! We are called to “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”! We can’t let our light shine, though, until we know WHOSE we are.
So, WHOSE are you? Who do you belong to? If you don’t belong to Jesus…I can promise you that He WANTS you to belong to Him! Tomorrow (Good Friday) is the day we remember how much He loves us & wants us to be His – He went to the cross to die a cruel death for our sins. THAT is love!! THAT is the action of someone who wants you to be His!! I will be eternally grateful that I can rest in the knowledge that I am Beloved’s and He is mine!
