I woke up in a Soho doorway… Not!
I know who I am when I know the I AM.
My wife and I once had an acquaintance, a Pastor I had met from Rwanda, live with us for several months, becoming a dear friend. While living with us he was daily amazed by our American affluence and our technological standard of living. For example, the first time I spoke to my car to place a call to my wife to let her know we were on our way home, was a comedy of surprise.
“Even your car is a cell phone?!?”
I remembered a time I was dazzling my Mother with instant information through Google on my “smart” phone.
Me: What is the population of Morris, MN? (the town where I was born)
Google: The population of Morris was 5,295 in 2016.
Me: How do I make beef bourguignon?
Google: Here are some recipes.
Me: Show me a picture of the chapel at Green Lake Bible Camp in MN. (this was Mom’s request, a camp she went to as a teen.)
Google: Here are some pictures.
“That’s it! That’s the chapel I remember from my youth!” Mom exclaimed when she saw the pictures. “How does it know? Who makes it do that?”
Me: Who are you?
Google: Searching for one’s self can take a lifetime. But a good place to start is classic rock.
Both Me & Mom: ROFL - (that’s textspeak for “rolling on the floor laughing”)
This really is the big question though. Who are you?
Have you ever asked yourself the question? “Who am I?” Do a Google search on that one and you will find articles, YouTube videos, songs, movies, books, TED talks, all trying to help people answer the question. Self Identity is a big business question. Who am I?
Jesus once interacted with his disciples, apparently wrestling with this question, and looking for answers from His disciples.
When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” He pressed them, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter said, “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.” Matthew 16:13-18 MSG
Jesus wasn’t asking the disciples in order to figure out this identity question for Himself. He knew that when they would come to clarity on who He is, they would be ready for the truth about their God given identity. When Peter declared clearly who Jesus is, Jesus spoke blessing and said, “now I will tell you who you really are.”
I challenge you to consider who Jesus is in a new way. Focus on what He says about Himself. These seven I AM statements may be a good place to start. Look them up. Ponder the statement, the context and it’s relevance in your life. Listen, through God’s Word, to God telling you who He is. Then ask God for the ears to hear Him tell you who you are. It’s a much better place to start than classic rock.
I AM the Bread of Life (John 6:35)
I AM the Light of the World (John 8:12)
I AM the Gate (John 10:7)
I AM the Good Shepherd (John 10:11)
I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)
I AM the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)
I AM the True Vine (John 15:1)
Maybe as you realize who Jesus really is in your life you will finally find out who you really are, what you were made for, for what purpose. My prayer for you will be that you will come to know who you are when you truly come to know who Jesus is.
I know who I am when I know the I AM. Do you know who Jesus says you are?
Peace
A good word for this morning. Thank you for sharing, it is encouraging!