A Different Way to Live
Blog post from the sermon: “Be Who God Made You”
There's something powerful about the simple phrase, "Remember who you are." Sometimes it can feel like a list of rules or a guilt-inducing reminder to behave. Truly it speaks to something deeper, like our identity, our core, who we truly are beneath the surface of our daily choices and struggles.
For Christians, this identity isn't rooted in our accomplishments, our bank accounts, or even our best behavior. It's rooted in whose we are. We are children of God, people whose very source and beginning comes from Him. When we understand this fundamental truth, everything else begins to fall into place.
The Distraction of Wealth
We live in a world that constantly bombards us with messages about money. Turn on the radio, scroll through social media, or watch television for even a few minutes, and you'll encounter advertisements designed to make you think about accumulating wealth, protecting your possessions, or upgrading your lifestyle. The message is clear and relentless: your value is tied to your financial status.
But here's the truth that cuts through all that noise: you weren't made to pursue money. Yes, money is necessary. We need income, we need to provide for ourselves and our families. But there's a crucial difference between using money as a tool and loving it as a god.
The famous biblical warning tells us that "the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." Notice it doesn't say money itself is evil but rather it's the love of it, the worship of it, the constant anxiety about it that becomes destructive. When we check our financial status every thirty minutes, when we measure our worth by our net worth, when we allow our happiness to rise and fall with market fluctuations, we've lost sight of what we were actually made to pursue.
What You Were Made to Pursue
So if not money, then what? Scripture gives us a clear answer through Paul's letter to Timothy. He writes, "But you, O man of God, flee from this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness."
These six qualities form the blueprint for a meaningful, purposeful life. That is our pursuit right here, right now. And here's the beautiful part: pursuing these things gives your life meaning even when you don't feel like you're achieving them perfectly. Just being on the right track, knowing you're moving in the right direction, is invigorating.
Righteousness isn't about proving how good you are or constantly justifying your actions to others. It's about resting in the righteousness that God gives you through Christ. You're already covered, already accepted, already called good by your Creator. This frees you from the exhausting cycle of seeking everyone's approval and allows you to weather the storms when people don't recognize your worth.
Godliness is about cultivating a spiritual life that naturally overflows into how you treat others with kindness, helpfulness, and encouragement. It means you're not ashamed to stand up for Jesus, to speak about your faith when the opportunity arises, to let God be important in your life in visible ways.
Faith here means trust, not just saving faith in Jesus, but daily trust that He'll take care of you in all circumstances. This is the fight against fear, the battle against anxiety. When we're full of fear, we become controlling, angry, sleepless. But when we learn to trust God, to give Him time to work things out, we discover a peace that transcends our circumstances.
Love is that serving, giving kind of love that makes you a giver rather than a taker. Here's something remarkable: nothing anyone does or fails to do today can keep you from living in love. Every situation becomes an opportunity to let Christ work through you for other people.
Endurance means holding up under heavy loads without giving in. It means hanging in there through difficult relationships, keeping your course as a child of God even when you're tempted toward revenge, refusing to quit on family, job, or life itself. You can't do this on your own. It drives you back to a closer prayer life, back to dependence on Jesus.
Gentleness comes from knowing you're going to be okay, which frees you from becoming a grouch or a tyrant. You can be gentle in all circumstances because your security isn't threatened by them.
The Reality Check
Let's be honest: looking at this list, all of us fall short every single day. But here's the critical point: this isn't about perfecting you. You're already saved by grace. Jesus is already your Savior. This is about direction, not perfection. These are your marching orders, your goals, your purpose.
You're already on the winning team. You don't have to achieve some shallow worldly goal of accumulating possessions. You can pursue these qualities anytime, anyplace. And when you do, even imperfectly, you glorify God.
Making God Visible
Nobody on earth can see God directly. He exists in unapproachable light. So where are people supposed to find Him? Through us. Through the church, not just when we gather, but when we scatter into our daily lives.
When we pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness, people get to see the Jesus we believe in. They encounter the invisible God through our visible lives. This is our purpose, our calling, our reason for being here.
Yes, we'll have bad days. We'll struggle with our temptations. We'll get upset about broken-down cars, forgotten birthdays, and countless other frustrations. But now that we've heard this word, we can pivot. We can get back in the game. We don't have to beat ourselves up because we're forgiven. We just get back on track.
Your Assignment
Consider writing down these six qualities: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Define each one in your own words. Then, each morning, look at that list and remind yourself: this is my job today. When I do my best at these things, Jesus is glorified and people get to see Him.
Remember who you are. You're a child of God, and He's given you everything you need to live a meaningful, purposeful life. Not someday. Today.
