Joy in knowing who I am

Popeye was one of my favorite cartoon characters growing up. I am pretty sure parents really appreciated the push on getting their children to eat spinach. That part did not work for me but I enjoyed the show anyway!

Several sayings were made famous from this cartoon. One was Wimpy’s which said, “I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.” The other one I remember was Popeye’s, “I yam, what I yam and that’s all that I yam.”

So who was Popeye? Sailor, friend, good guy, and a vegetarian? Would you agree?

Who are you? When we are asked that question we often tell others about our families or our jobs. Sometimes we list our accomplishments or our education.

Paul begins the third chapter of Philippians by telling us his accomplishments in the world. He goes on to say that we shouldn’t put our confidence in those things. But, in verse seven he says that all of those things are loss when compared to knowing Jesus and becoming like Him.

As Christ followers we are not who the world says we are. We are who we are by faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is true joy in knowing and believing that. We can say, I yam who I yam because of the great I am!