In a word, who are you? What is your identity? Where do you find it? How do you want people to see you? Are you smart, attractive, athletic, or gifted? We all find our identity in something. How will we find ours? In 2022, Scottie Scheffler donned a green jacket in Augusta, Georgia. He won the Master’s tournament as a twenty-five-year-old golfer.
At Caesarea Philippi, where people had worshiped idols for ages past, Jesus asked his disciples who people thought he was. Of course, Jesus knew exactly who he was. This was not his co-dependent moment. People identified Jesus as a prophet. Then Jesus asked a second question, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Once Peter identified Jesus, he learned who he was, Peter, a rock.
When asked about his great win at the Masters, Scottie Scheffler said, “The reason why I play golf is I’m trying to glorify God and all that He’s done in my life. So, for me, my identity isn’t a golf score. Like my wife, Meredith, told me this morning, ‘If you win this golf tournament today, if you lose this golf tournament by 10 shots or if you never win another golf tournament again. I’m still going to love you, you’re still going to be the same person. Jesus loves you and nothing changes.’ All I’m trying to do is glorify God and that’s why I’m here and that’s why I’m in [this] position.”
Once we understand who Jesus is, we may discover who we are. Our identity stems not from our families or our abilities or our nationalities, but from Christ. Under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, we live in right relationship with the Father as part of his church. In Christ, we cannot fail because we live with the authority of our King in his kingdom.
