God determines your identity...

            A few weeks ago, I made a note to write a post on Mephibosheth, king Saul’s grandson. After his father and grandfather died in a war against their enemies, his maid grabbed him up and ran with him, in an attempt to save his life. Unfortunately, in the process, she accidentally dropped him and he became lame in his feet from that day (2 Samuel 4:4). 
         For many years he remained hidden but safe. He grew up, got married and had his own family but could not accomplish much because of his handicap. One of the things I find interesting with this story is that he was handicapped, he was hidden and he was anonymous. He seemed useless, destined to accomplish nothing or be anyone of importance. All the cards seemed stacked against him, until one day he found himself being summoned before the new king, David, and being told that for the sake of his father, Jonathan, he would eat every day at the king’s table and that all that had belonged to his grandfather would be restored to him. He did not have to do a thing to receive this blessing … except be himself.
         You see, his identity had not changed because of his negative circumstances. He was still royalty. He was still a prince’s son, he had nobility running through his veins. The fact that his father and grandfather had died and none of his family were able to ascend the throne could not change his identity. The fact that he was lame in his feet and considered an outcast in society could not change who he was. The fact that he saw himself as and called himself “a dead dog” (2 Samuel 9:8) could not change his identity. He was who he was and there was nothing he could do to change that. He was the son of Jonathan, king David's former best friend, and this entitled him to be favoured by him.
         As children of God, we too are who we are, we can’t change that. We may mess up, possess more flaws than we care to confess, but all these don’t and can’t change the fact that we are a child of God. It doesn’t even change God’s opinion of us. He has said what He has said about us and that will never change.
         Think of king David. When the prophet Samuel came to his house to anoint a new king, his own father did not see it fit to let him be a part of the event. He had to remain with the sheep. No one, not even Samuel, could foresee that this insignificant shepherd, would become the new king. Like Mephibosheth, he was hidden and anonymous. Yet God called him out. God knew exactly who he was and what His purpose for this young man’s life would be. No one could stop God’s purpose for his life. No one and nothing can stop God’s purpose for yours either. 
​          You are who God says you are. God’s opinion of you will never change, He will never stop loving you (Romans 8:35, 38-39). So, at the end of the day, no matter the negative circumstances that may come your way, no matter how much you are rejected by others, no matter how much you reject yourself, as God’s child, you can’t change His opinion of you, you can’t change who He says you are, you can’t even stop his purpose for your life. Let’s face it, whether you accept it or reject it, God still has the final say about you!!!

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