No matter where you were born. No matter when you were born. No matter your economic or social status, we all ask questions about ourselves. There are five questions that drive people to do evil or positively impact the world. One question we ask and must be able to answer is – Who am I? This is a question of identity.
Our identity comes from several sources. Before we begin on who and where identity comes from, let’s go back to the year 2000 with a box office hit produced $460.5 million that is set back in the height of the Roman Empire rein – Gladiator.
Russel Crowe plays Gladiator/Spaniard/Maximus and was falsing exiled from the throne of Rome as the next Emporer by the jealous Commodus played by Joaquin Pheonix. Read this transcript of the scene where these two reunite for the first time since Commodus exiles Maximus and now finds this Gladiator back in Rome winning every “gladiator battle.”
[Commodus enters the arena. Maximus eyes an arrow in the dirt amongst the bloodied debris, kneels to pick it up. The gladiators follow Maximus’ action and also kneel.] COMMODUS: Rise, rise.
[Lucius enters behind Commodus and Maximus looks disappointed. He does not want to attempt an attack on Commodus with the boy so close.]
COMMODUS: Your fame is well deserved, Spaniard. I don’t think there has been a gladiator to match you, as for this young man [Commodus holding Lucius in front him], he insists you are Hector reborn, or was it Hercules. Why doesn’t the hero reveal himself and tell us all your real name. You do have a name…?
MAXIMUS: My name is gladiator. [Maximus slowly turns around and begins to walk back to the other gladiators.]
COMMODUS: How dare you show your back to me, SLAVE. You will remove your helmet and tell me your name…[The Praetorian take a ready-stand, and the gladiators, without weapons, move forward ready to fight with Maximus. Maximus stops, takes a deep breath, removes his helmet, and turns to face Commodus.]
MAXIMUS: My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius. Commander of the armies of the North, general of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife, and I will have my vengeance in this life or the next
Wow! Did you see what Maximus said? He 100% knew who he was, with every fiber of his being, without question and without hesitation, he spoke his identity. In the movie, he defied the most powerful person in the world at that time, the Emperor. As it was practiced he should have been executed but because knew who he was the people of Rome choose to let him live, against the Emperor’s wishes.
Like Maximus, we must know the answer to, Who am I? Let’s look at the sources of identity. Think back to your childhood. Were you the “smart kid,” “athletic kid,” or “good-looking kid,” maybe these words describe your upbringing. Maybe not and these sound familiar, the “clumsy kid,” “forgetful kid,” or the “sick kid”? Words have power, especially the words that are spoken over us by our close family and friends.
Not only the words spoken over us but the words we speak about ourselves. Think about what thoughts you think about yourself and or the words you say about yourself. Are they positive or negative? Unfortunately for most people I speak with, it’s negative words. What we say about ourselves largely says how we feel about ourselves. You see, Identity is simply the labels worn on our foreheads for everyone to see.
Recently there was a study on the power of words conducted by kids at school. Over the course of a month’s time, two plants had the same environment. The only difference was one plant had nonstop negative downgrading words spoken over it while the other had nonstop positive uplifting words spoken over it. After the month the negative word plant was wilted, dried up, and almost dead. the positive uplifting word plant was healthy and thriving. Yes, words have power!
Our identity should be coming from the family. It’s from the family that a child’s foundational identity is created. Within the family unit, this is what is passed down to the next generation;
Products of the family unit;
-
- Responsibility
- Accountability
- Respect
- Morality
- Values
- Communication
- Self Concept and self-worth
- Convictions and beliefs
Remember our kids are watching. Most research shows that only 7% of communication is verbal and the rest is through tone of voice, body language, and observation.
Galatians 6:7 says, a man reaps what he sows. For good or for bad, what we put into work today, we see the product of tomorrow. So I ask you, what words do you what to speak over yourself and your children? Here’s a good practice I do with our kids, that I encourage you do do with yours. Have them repeat these words at bedtime; I am blessed, I am a friend of God, I am a child of God, I am bold, I am confident, I am a leader, I am wonderfully made, and I am a winner.
Parents, it’s so important that we begin early in our child’s life to instill encouraging words, powerful words into their minds. They are growing up with influences that many of us did not have, like social media. Today social media has a major influence on how our kids think and ultimately behave. They are bombarded with images, words, and videos from sources that may not be in line with what you wish for your child and they are faced with making decisions on who to listen too. They will need to rely on the identity we have put into them.
Remember this; the loudest voice in our minds will ultimately influence our decisions. Will that voice be your voice or someone else who has no vested interest in your success?
Here are a few scriptures for you to read.
John 15:15 (A friend of God) No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
John 1:12 (A child of God) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
2 Corinthians 5:17 (A new creation) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Ephesians 1:3 (Blessed)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
Ephesians 3:12 (Boldness/Confidence), in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him
2 Corinthians 2:14 TPT (A winner) God always makes his grace visible in Christ, who includes us as partners of his endless triumph. Through our yielded lives he spreads[c] the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere we go.
I love what this translation says, partners of his endless triumph. A winner yesterday, today, and tomorrow!