Who Are You And What Do You Do?

“It’s nice to meet you. So, what do you do?” I had just met a new, young couple at a social gathering and as soon as the conversation broke off from couples to individuals, this was the question I posed to the young woman standing in front of me.

She waved her hand and said, “Oh, I’m just a stay at home mom,” and then dismissed the statement quickly by adding that she’d soon be pursuing another degree. As her ambitious plans unfolded, it struck me how much weight my question carried. I could hear the layers of insecurity in her voice as she tried to shed light on all of her potential, great endeavors. My question unintentionally seemed to suggest that what she does gives value to who she is.

I’ve felt the same insecurities at different seasons in life. Several years back, I remember picking up my son from preschool, and when he got in the car, he informed me that he needed to interview someone with an important job. I was staying home with my young children at the time, and when I offered to help by sharing my responsibilities as a mom, my five-year old offspring said very matter-of-factly: “That’s OK, mom. I need to interview someone who does something.”

For the love of motherhood. I almost left him on the curbside.

So, I’ve felt the pressure to “achieve” in order to prove my significance. John Piper refers to every person’s soul as a “template shaped for God.” We were made for Him, so our significance comes from Him, but our affections are so distorted that we try to cram into this template everything the world says makes us significant. The reality is, we live in a culture that tells us our importance is based on our degree, salary, or superior ranking.

By God’s strength, we need to close our ears to the lie that we have value merely because of our accomplishments. In fact, the Scripture says the exact opposite. You are valuable, child of God, because of who you belong to.

In the book of Philippians, Paul begins his letter to the church of Philippi with these words:

“…To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: ‘Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

He does not address these believers by their status as Philippians (which would have been beneficial in those days); rather, Paul addresses these believers by their status as Christ-followers, and in these two brief verses, we’re reminded of the magnificence of this status.

The Christian Is Holy

Paul addresses the Philippian Christians as “saints,” a word meaning “holy.” Holiness, as it applies to believers, seems unfitting. On the one hand, God is perfectly holy. We read in the book of Isaiah that the Prophet fell to his knees as the threshold shook and the seraphim called out: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty.” The Lord is perfectly, stunningly holy.

On a human level, holiness seems unachievable. And yet, the Bible is clear that if you bear Christ’s name, you are holy, and it’s not because you are perfect or even moral, but you are holy because you have a relationship with the God the Father.

As we grow in our understanding of God and His Word, we grow in holiness, causing us to love more of what Jesus loves. As a Christian, you have an intimate and personal relationship with the One who created the skies and spoke life into existence and because of this, you are holy.

The Christian Is ‘In Christ‘

The Christian is also “in Christ.” Our status is seen in a glorious light with this profound statement. We are completely united with Christ and because of this, we share in all of His riches. Everything we do, we do in in Christ. When anxiety rolls in like waves after a storm, we face it united to Christ and with his peace. When we struggle with a child who rebels, we do so united to Christ and with His wisdom and love. When we are exhausted because of young children, we have Christ’s strength to give us the ability to care and provide because we are in Him.

Believer in Jesus, you are not walking through this life on your own, but you are united fully and completely to your Savior. It’s in the simple parts of our daily existence that we see fully this gift of our salvation unfold. Christian, you remain always and forever in Christ.

The Christian Possesses Grace and Peace

One of the most beautiful aspects of our status as Christians is that we have been given grace and peace. Grace – God’s riches at Christ’s Expense on the cross – is poured out daily like a waterfall of treasures reminding us of His matchless love.

And the peace we are given is beyond anything the world can offer. This gift from God does not come and go, but it is a peace that gives assurance that He will never leave us or forsake us. And resting in this perfect peace is believing in the promise that God is working out every detail of our life for His glory and for our good, no matter how difficult it may be to understand.

Imprinted in my memory is my dear mother lying in nursing bed as we watched the effects of a brain disease rip every ability from her being. I distinctly remember one particular afternoon sitting on the edge of mom’s bed watching her sleep. She was no longer able to speak, stand, or do anything for herself. The disease had distorted her face and body, but in my grief, I was reminded that her value had not changed before God. According to the world, she had nothing to offer, making her insignificant. According to Jesus she could not be held in greater esteem because she belonged to Him.

No matter the plaques you have gained or have yet to receive, you are valuable beyond understanding if you belong to Jesus. And if you are His child, there is no greater status that you will carry in this life.