remember who you are

I recently learned that when Mormon girls go out on dates, their mothers will tell them "remember who you are" as they're leaving. Mormons believe that they are the literal spiritual children of God, so the reminder is for them to keep their identity as God's children at the forefront of their thoughts.

Now I have not even the slightest inkling of a desire to become Mormon, but I think it's really cool that these mothers will remind their daughters of their identity. How often and how easily do we forget our identity in the midst of all the chaos of life?

I think that as a Christian it is so important that I remember who I am. I am not my own. I was bought with a price. I have been adopted into God's family and am co-heirs with Christ. I am loved. I am forgiven. I am redeemed.

There are so many identities that we could each take on and portray to the world, but our true identity is in Christ. It's not a question of if I'm wealthy or impoverished, single or married, intelligent or not, successful or barely scraping by, a mother or barren, alone or surrounded by friends. The thing that matters is that I'm a child of the King. Remembering that makes all the difference.

Often in the epistles, the authors begin their letters by reminding their audience of God's faithfulness to fulfill his promises, of who Christ is and what he accomplished on the cross, and of who we are in Him. For even though "at one time you were darkness," because of who Christ is and who we are in him "now you are light in the Lord," so we are to "walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8). We do not live, speak, think, or act in any particular way to gain our salvation, but we live, speak, think, and act because he is who he said he was and we are changed because of him.

So I would just encourage you to remember who you are.