July 31, 2014

Who Are You?

I had this really odd dream many years ago.  In it, I was attending a banquet and there was quite a bit of ego/vanity/pomp being aired by everyone at the table.  This lady turned to me and asked, "So, who are you?"

The question seemed to be along the lines of - "what makes you think you belong here?" and that question did not set well with me.  I was tempted to retort something rather rude, along the lines that I did have ever right to be there, due to heritage and/or lineage, unlike most there.

But, then I thought about the fact that I am if nothing else, a child of God, because I am sold out for Jesus.  I looked at her and asked, "Whom do I need to be other than a son of the King?"

Yeah, well that woke me up!  Like I said a very odd dream for me.  I have struggled most of my life over "whom am I really?".  I fit in nowhere, conversations with others are all but impossible, I truly am alone in a crowd and there is no one like me - anywhere.  It has only been this past year I have even found any acceptance.  And I am just beginning to learn who I am now.

What does God say about you?
Do you know that you are loved?
If you do, then you can and will  be able to face anything!

Read Mark 1:9-11

We see the passing of the role from John the Baptizer to Jesus.

God, the Father, says "You are loved".
Jesus walked from Nazareth to the River Jordan in Judea.  He came to be baptized by John, his cousin.  And His identity was confirmed by John ...

And we learn that God, through Jesus, loves each and everyone of us.  We are in Him, that love is ours by extension.
We are loved.
You are loved.
Even I am loved.
Nothing can separate us from God's love...

God, the Father, says "You are mine".
Was this just a message from God to Jesus, or did everyone there hear this?
Remember your identity; Jesus was now on the road to His cross.
God communicates love, approval, etc
We are children of God.
We can and will face anything of this world because we know whose we are!

God, the Father, says "You bring me joy".
When God is pleased with you, he prepares you for a purpose.
He will send His Spirit to:
  • Strengthen us
  • Equip us
  • Seal us
  • Fill us
  • Lead us

No comments: