In a world where identity is everything, how can we remember who we are? You’ve probably seen the scene in The Lion King when The spirit of his father Mufasa returned and told Simba “Remember who you are.” It’s powerful because our internal identity must then be expressed through our actions. Who we see ourselves to be matters.
As disciples of Jesus, followers of the way, our identity is everything—we need to remember that our identity is rooted in the person of Jesus. So our actions are to mirror the actions of Jesus. Take a look sometime at what Jesus actually did according to the gospel accounts. I read through all of the gospels with an eye toward recording the actions of Jesus—what did he actually do—and I came up with the following 13 categories:
Anchored in Jesus
- Jesus Proclaimed and Manifested the Kingdom of God
- Jesus Prayed
- Jesus Did What He Saw the Father Doing
- Jesus Relied on the Holy Spirit
- Jesus Engaged with the Least and the Lost
- Jesus Showed Compassion
- Jesus Challenged Traditional Thinking
- Jesus Called People to Follow Him
- Jesus Discipled
- Jesus Sent Out the Disciples He Was Developing
- Jesus Served
- Jesus Healed
- Jesus Gave
Think through some of the stories that come to mind in each of these categories. Then look through the list again and consider how you are living and loving like Jesus in each of these ways. If there are holes—which there will be for all of us—those holes reflect the ways we are not rooting our identity fully in Jesus. Consider: if we are not praying, we are likely buying into the lie that we ourselves are all-powerful, independent, and in charge. If we are not showing compassion to others, we are buying into the lie that we have earned all we have by our own efforts. If we are not engaging with the least and the lost as Jesus did, we are living either in fear or in arrogance that we are better than they are. You can go through the whole list this way.
Jesus remembered who he was
Jesus lived and worked in a divided and polarized world, much as we do today. Yet he remained steady and rooted in who he is regardless of external pressures.
How can we today practice a type of prayer that will ground us in the love and life of Jesus? Consider the phrase from the Apostle Paul: “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5b). There are certainly many ways to interpret what that might mean, but what about this approach?
Periodically throughout our day, we stop, become aware of our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and ask ourselves: “Is this Jesus?” Then we listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit and acknowledge him saying to us: “This is Jesus.” Or “This is not Jesus.” Even when there’s a loose connection, we generally can discern whether we are in alignment with the Spirit of Jesus. How are we treating others? How are we thinking of ourselves? What are we focusing on. We know.
And that’s one of the single most important things about Jesus: people were drawn to him. Even if they disagreed with him, or were confused by him, or even a bit afraid of him… they were drawn to the love he exuded. That’s what we are called to as well. Consider: What is the impact of your approach on others? Do they feel seen? Heard? Loved? Lovingly challenged? Encouraged to try again even if they have failed in the past? That’s the effect Jesus had on people.
Why it matters
When you remember who you are helps you and it helps others. The more we are able to remain anchored in Christ, taking captive every thought to him, the more we bring the likeness and image of Jesus into this world. There is a future hope to which we are calling people. And the extension of that invitation should be drawing, providing hope and a future where there was none before. That’s something people hunger and thirst for, and it’s open and available to anyone.
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” — John 7:37-38
Need inspiration?
An undivided heart is not something you can force on yourself or others and this book isn’t an instruction manual with step-by-step procedures. An Undivided Heart: Living and Loving like Jesus* is a journey, unique to you, that begins with your unique relationship with Jesus. Living with an undivided heart will naturally lead to living an undivided life. Cultivation of the heart flows into action.
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