Who are you?

What is important about you?

What makes you, you?

I might answer that question like this; My name is James Douglas Hunt. I am a husband and dad. I work as a pastor.  I am a musician, photographer, writer and runner. I am introverted. I am sensitive. I am a follower of Jesus. I want my life to matter.

All of the things that you thought about in answer to that question are important. It is important that I am a husband and a dad. It matters that I am creative. It is important that I want my life to matter. But, none of those things are the most important thing about me and those types of things are not the most important thing about you. Those are not the ultimate defining marks of who you are. Those are not your identity.

In the letter to the church at Ephesus, The Apostle Paul has given us a beautiful description of who we are in Christ.

“In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.” (Eph. 1:5-6, NIV)

Paul is giving us the answer we all need to hear and embrace to the question, “who are you.” 

You are deeply and perfectly loved by your Father in Heaven.

You have been adopted into His family because it pleases Him.

He chose you because He wanted to, not because He had to.

Because of Jesus, you are a child of God. That is your identity. That is who you are.

What is so amazing is that you are His child, not because you have earned it, but because of His love, His adoption of you in Christ. Here is what J.I. Packer writes about your adoption by the Father in Heaven. “Adoption, by its very nature, is an act of free kindness to the person adopted. If you become a father by adopting a son or daughter, you do so because you choose to, not because you are bound to. Similarly, God adopts because He chooses to. He had no duty to do so…But He loved us; so He redeemed us, forgave us, took us His sons and daughters and gave Himself to us as our Father.”

If you are like me, you can probably come up with plenty of reasons why God should not have chosen to adopt you. My list is long and ugly! But that highlights, even more, the beauty and greatness of God’s adopting love! When we know the reality of His identity altering love, it will bring “praise to His glorious grace”.

Take this challenge this week. Write these words on a sticky note, piece of paper, on your hand or somewhere that you know you will see throughout the day. Everytime you see it, briefly pause and offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God.

I AM A CHILD OF GOD

God, my Father.  Thank you for choosing to adopt me into your family! I know that I do not deserve this! But Your love is so amazing! Help me live my life in freedom that comes in being Your Child.