It is amazing how much you can learn about someone simply by the way that they introduce themselves. It seems that no matter what the setting or situation, the same questions are always asked - what do you do, where are you from, and why should I care. Okay, so maybe that last one is something that you may ponder internally, but it is in these brief conversations that we can quicly observe how a person defines themselves.

Many are quick to announce their occupation with pride and gusto, while others meekly whisper embarrassedly. Beaming parents are often quick to pull out new photos, while students may share about their studies. They say, "I'm Mary, a proud mom," or "I'm James, the successful attorney," or perhaps it's "Beth, nothing too special."
In thinking about all of these introductions, I want to share with you something I recently read in Philip Yancey's book, What's So Amazing About Grace. Yancey writes:

"The disciple named John, is identified in the Gospels as, 'the one Jesus loved' (John 20:2)...If John were to be asked, 'What is your primary identity in life?' He would not reply, 'I am a disciple, an apostle, an evangelist, an author of one of the four Gospels,' but rather 'I am the one Jesus loves'."

"What would it mean, I ask myself, if I too came to the place where I saw my primary identity in life as 'the one Jesus loves'? How differently would I view myself at the end of a day?"

Our world is so wrapped up in itself, we learn early on what we do and don't want to define us in order to be accepted by others. Our lives become devoted to increasing our status and our self-value becomes based upon external qualities. It's time to let go of all of our man-made, self-imposed, self-limiting definitions and cling to the reality that there is nothing greater or more eternal than being "the one Jesus loves". And the best part about it is that there isn't anything we can do, good or bad, to change this identity - he loves us despite an in spite of ourselves!

I believe that if we were to embrace our true identity in Christ, all of the other little definitions would quickly fade away and instead of finding ourselves stretched, depressed, and exhausted at the end of each day, we would find ourselves to be rejuvenated, inspired, and valued.

This week, I challenge you to take a breather from your daily grind and think about how you've been defining yourself lately. Have you been using the world's measuring stick and accepting its labels, or have you stepped out in confidence, shouting from the rooftops "I AM THE ONE JESUS LOVES!"