Who am I?
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 1 Peter 3:15
Recently, I had a rare opportunity to go to Wegmans by myself, without any of my three young children in tow. I was looking forward to getting through the list in a more efficient manner than normal. While in the checkout line, the cashier who was a young woman began to share about the disparaging remarks that had been directed to her by not just one, but two of the prior customers. She offered these remarks to me unsolicited which told me that she was really hurt by what had taken place.
I offered the first thought that came to mind and so I said, “What people say to you is not a reflection of who you are.” She looked at me and asked, “Are you some kind of inspirational speaker?” I told her that I wasn’t, but that I really believed what I had just said to her. As she continued to load the cart, my mind quickly drifted back to my eagerness to be on my way. As I left the store and made my way through the parking lot, the verse from 1 Peter came to mind, “… you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks you about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.” (1 Peter 3:15). I knew that in my haste to finish my shopping, I had missed an opportunity.
Some other responses began to run through my mind about what I could have, and should have said when she asked “who am I”. Sometimes, as Christians we can spend a lot of time “preaching” to people who may not be ready to hear it. But here, this young woman had noticed something different in me, and had specifically asked me about who I was, and I failed to let her know that who I am is a reflection of God at work in me.
This incident was a reminder to me that if I am living it, and am asked about it, I must have an answer prepared that both pleases and glorifies Him. I am not holding on to the guilt I felt that day, because I know God has all things in hand. I share my experience to encourage us to be prepared to give Him the credit when someone notices something “different” about us.
