Who do you say that I am?

One part of Christian doctrine that I never understood was when pastors would ask their flock to ask others what they think of them. If you want to know how you come across, then ask your friends or co-workers. That seems like common sense, but is it really always biblical? Or even common sensical?

I think about Jesus talking to his disciples in Matthew 16:

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
¹⁵
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

If Jesus couldn't get the people to know who he was, how much harder will it be for us to get people to understand who we are?

People will say things about you all the time. Some will lie about you. Some will think you are more fantastic than you ever were. Some will be confused by you. And some will never pay any attention to you. Very few will ever know who you are and how God sees you.

So if others talk. Let 'em talk. If others don't see you how you really are, move on. It didn't seem to bother Jesus, so maybe we can not let us bother us.