I remember going to the movies on the town square when our boys were very young in Searcy, Arkansas. We had seen previews for the Lion King, and it looked like a movie we wanted to go see. The kids really enjoyed it. For months, they walked around singing, "Hakuna Matata" and other songs from the movie. But below the surface of all the music and the color is a deeper message. The story features a young lion who was destined to become king, but had lost his way. He wandered far away and lived a different life that he was supposed to. In a soul searching moment, he remembers things that his father had taught him, especially the phrase, "remember who you are." After this reminder and dealing with ghosts from his past, the young lion returns and takes hold of his destiny.This challenge to "remember who you are" is a deeply embedded message in scripture. We have a destiny and an identity given to us by our Heavenly Father. Even after we have read the Bible through once, we spend an entire lifetime reading it over and over again. Why? Sometimes we learn something new. At other times we just need reminders. We need to remember who our Father is, who our Lord is, and what our purpose in life is. Without these reminders, we could find ourselves wandering far away from our destiny as well. Even though some of us may enjoy the life built away from God, it is not the life God intended for us and will only wind up empty and devoid of meaning and life.
Consider some of the things that God calls you in scripture. You are member of Christ's Body (1 Corinthians 12:27), God will perfect the work He has begun in you (Philippians 1:6), you are a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20), chosen before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:4, 11), adopted as his child (Ephesians 1:5), redeemed (Ephesians 1:8), forgiven (Ephesians 1:8; Colossians 1:14), and a saint (Ephesians 1:18). You are the salt and light of the earth (Matthew 5:13-14), a minister of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-20), raised up with Christ (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 2:12), a holy temple (Ephesians 2:21; 1 Corinthians 6:19), and completed by God (Ephesians 3:19). You have been called (Ephesians 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:9), you have a new attitude and a new lifestyle (Ephesians 4:21-32), can honor God through marriage (Ephesians 5:22-33), and can parent my children with composure (Ephesians 6:4). You are His disciple (John 13:15), prayed for by Jesus Christ (John 17:20-23), and your heart and mind is protected with God's peace (Philippians 4:7). You are chosen and dearly loved (Colossians 3:12), blameless (I Corinthians 1:8), set free (Romans 8:2; John 8:32), crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20), and more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37). You are no longer condemned (Romans 8:1, 2), are not helpless (Philippians 4:13), are overcoming (I John 4:4), persevering (Philippians 3:14), and protected (John 10:28) You are born again (I Peter 1:23), a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), delivered (Colossians 1:13), and victorious (1 Corinthians 15:57).
Remember who you are.