Let’s try this exercise.

How do I define myself? How would you define yourself?

I am the daughter of my parents.
But, my parents have passed into Eternity. While I am their daughter, I no longer get the opportunity to act on that position.

I am a wife.
I have a wonderful husband of 47 years.
Husbands and wives pass away.
I have seen husbands stop loving wives.
I have seen wives leave husbands.

I am a mother. We have 2 children.
These children are grown, married with families of their own. My role of mother remains but with the distance of maturity and time in that relationship. I know mothers who have children that never speak to them.

I am a grandmother. We have 6 grandchildren.
Again, our grandchildren are growing up. They are still close to us but are moving out into the world of adulthood.
I know friends and family that have grandchildren all over the country and in foreign countries. They do not get to participate in those little lives the same way they would if they lived nearby.

I am a sister.
I am blessed to have a good relationship with my brother and his family.
I’ve seen families separated by anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness.
There are many families estranged and never speaking to one another.

I was a music major in college. I taught music.
I do not teach anymore. But, I still love music.

Why did I go through all these titles /positions in life? Because so many of us define ourselves in this way. It seems to me these titles describe us more than they define us. However, any one of these relationships, jobs, or functions can be lost. If lost, what happens to our image, our definition of our self? And if not lost, as these roles change through the years, what does that mean in terms of defining self?

What is THE THING that no one, no authority, or power can take from us? Who we are in Christ Jesus. We are His. We are a child of God. We belong to the family of God. Once we have given our life to Him, we are His. Irrevocable. Paid for by His blood and finished work on the cross.

All these other relationships can change or be lost, but we belong to Him for Eternity.
Define yourself. How do you see yourself? We are many things to many people. The one thing we will always be….is His.