04/23/2019
Devotion 1:
“Who am I?” we may sometimes ask ourselves. We may question the purpose of our lives. Something deep inside our hearts cries out for meaning and seeks to fill this need. We do many things to fill this empty spot in our lives. Some things are good. Others are not so helpful. And others are bad for our lives and souls. We silently cry I need to know who I am! We experience no peace until we answer this question for ourselves. When this happens nothing can stop us!
God knows this and he wants to help us see the potential that is in us. He started with Christmas day when his son Jesus was born. As Jesus got older he knew who he was. He did not doubt the reason why He walked this earth. He did not stop from fulfilling His purpose in life. However, not all people liked what Jesus said and did.
When the religious leaders of his day demanded Jesus to tell them who He really was, Jesus clearly told them who he was. He said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). Right after this, his hearers tried to stone him to death. By saying this Jesus made himself equal with God.
Many years ago God rescued his people from slavery in Egypt. Right before God did this, he told his name to a man called Moses. The Lord told Moses, the prophet, that His name was “I AM.” So when Jesus applied God's name “I AM” the people at that time were extremely angry. Truth often causes outrages of mind and belief.
Jesus cared more about the truth than he did on what made people happy. He told people what he heard his father in heaven say. He did not speak promises he would not keep.. Jesus does not back away from people who disagree with him.
In this world we sometimes get confused by people speaking only half-true things. Jesus spoke in love. When we see the sun’s rays they may hurt our eyes at first. But after a few minutes our eyes are okay. Jesus’ words are like this. His message challenged the people who heard him and it sometimes hurt them. But to those who continued to listen to him they were blessed with true joy, hope, and peace.
Another way the Bible answered the question, “Who am I?” about Jesus, it said,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:1-3).
Jesus is the living Word. Words communicate, so does Jesus. He speaks words that forgive sins, heal the sick, rescues people from evil spirits. Sometimes he speaks words that raise dead people to life. All Jesus’ words give people hope in their lives. When Jesus’ speaks, people receive purpose and meaning for our lives. Jesus is the Word; love flows into our hearts.
However many people rejected Jesus’ words. He also does not change this truth to become more acceptable to others. He seems to say, “I am who I claim to be. I hide nothing. I speak the Word my father in heaven gives me.”
There are many other things Jesus said and did. We will discover as we read further. As the I am, Jesus teaches us that he is equal with God. As the Word, he shares with us the very words and teachings from his father in heaven.
This truth will always lead us toward becoming friends forever with God the father in heaven. We no longer have to wonder who we are or why we are here on earth. Through Jesus we are offered our identity. Our identity is who we really are. It is not what people think we are. It is how our loving father in heaven sees us. No one can take this away from us. Through Jesus, God looks upon us with favor. Nothing and no one can ever change this truth.
Through this truth, we know we are loved. We receive the father in heaven’s acceptance and love. Through Jesus, the father knows who we are. So we too can know who we truly are. Our identity comes from believing Jesus the Word. He gives us purpose, power, authority and everlasting joy for our lives.
We do not have to find God or His purposes for our lives. Jesus, as I am never changes his mind. His love for us does not stop even when we are not good people. Nothing can ever change this truth. The bible says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
When we listen to Jesus, we listen to God. When we hear Jesus, we hear the father’s love for us. Now, Jesus says to us, who do you think I am?” It is as simple as that.
God enjoys listening to his children. He wants to be our loving God who listens to everything we say. Please say this prayer to our caring father in heaven.
Prayer:
Heavenly father, I give you praise for showing yourself completely in your son Jesus. No longer do I need to wonder “who am I?”. I do not need to find peace, joy, meaning and purpose for my life. I have these already in Jesus. As the son of God, he is full of love and truth. I have everything I need for a life that is joyful, peaceful, and it is forever. I truly thank you for your favor that I can never earn. Thank you father for my true identity that is in Jesus. Amen.
