Remember who you are…

February 16, 2009 by admin.

It is a dark and balmy night in the Saharan Desert regions of Africa. Off in the distance a wise, albeit eccentric, sage is cackling and singing some jibberish. There, in the night sky, a glowing cloud resembling his father echoes, “remember who you are. You are my son, and the one true king.”

And then, Mufasa fades away into the sky, and Simba is left alone.

Listening to the message yesterday, I couldn’t help but remember this scene from The Lion King as we read James 1:23-24, which says “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” James reveals to us that when we do not live out our faith in obedience to God, we are actively forgetting who we are.

What is our identity, through the word of truth? “That we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” God’s very best. That’s a comfort isn’t it?

James doesn’t end there. He then explains that while God thinks very highly of us, there’s a certain righteous life that he desires for us, as His sons and daughters. Here’s a short list from the verses we covered (James 1:13-27) this past Lord’s Day of characteristics that God is working to produce in us:

• Quick to listen
• Slow to speak
• Slow to get angry
• Word-doers (not just hearers only)
• Control of our tongues
• Care for orphans
• Care for widows
• Turning away from the influences in our lives that draw us toward sin. 

If we can be real for a moment, I think many of us would agree that that short list suddenly becomes very tall when we actually try to live it. As Curt pointed out, James provides us with a way to acheive this goal (verse 25): “But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.”

Instead of living a performance-based relationship with God, where you’re checking off your religious list - allow the Holy Spirit to shape you through the mirror James talks about.

Look into that mirror of God’s word, and be reminded of who Christ is - of his abundant life for you. Remember the escape routes He provides when temptations come.

Remember who you are.

Follow up question: is the fact that God has provided you with a way out of every single temptation a source of comfort and encouragement, or of guilt and discouragement? Discuss.

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