“What Do You Have To Say About Yourself?”

WHO ARE YOU???

John 1:19-23 (NLT)

 ¹⁹ This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” ²⁰ He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.” ²¹ “Well then, who are you?” they asked.

“Are you Elijah?”    “No,” he replied.    “Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”   “No.”

 ²² “Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”

 ²³ John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:    “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,  ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”

“Who am I?” This is a question that plagues this generation. And not only the younger generation, but even as we grow older, time and time again we can stop and ask ourselves, “Who am I?” “What am I doing here?”

And these are questions that need to be asked.

In this scripture, we find the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem sending priests and Levites to John (the Baptist, as he’s known), to ask him that very question… or more pointedly, “Who are you?”

His initial response is interesting, “I am not the Messiah.”  This is an interesting response that I think we also could learn a lot from. He knew who he wasn’t! So many people these days are thinking that they’re something they’re not. Pride of life and ego-centric living has built a massive façade in many lives today… and not just a few problems and issues arise because of it.

 2 Corinthians 10:12
“For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”

So the first step to finding our identity is to find out who we’re not! John was not a saviour, not sent to perform miracles as Elijah did, or to be ‘The Prophet’.  We need to realise that we are not the saviour of the world… it may be a revelation for some!

 I remember when I first became a Christian, I wanted to go and get all my non-Christian friends and carry them down to the altar to be with Jesus. I was so excited about the change in me that I so desperately wanted them to know the same. One night after a revival meeting in a neighbouring town, I went up to the pastor who was an older gentleman filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom and spoke to him about getting my friends ‘saved’. He looked at me and said gently, “You want to go and carry them all down to the altar don’t you?” To which I eagerly nodded. And the words he spoke to me changed my perspective forever. He said, “It’s not our job. We can only tell them the Good News and then pray, leave them in God’s hands.”

So simple…. IT’S NOT OUR JOB !!

Yet so profound. I was set free! Set free of ‘trying’ to get my friends saved. All I had to do was be a faithful witness of God’s love and grace and let god be God! We need to be like Jesus, but we are not Jesus (He does a much better job by the way too).

So, we are not our friends. We may not have their talents or skills, or athletic ability, whatever it is. Maybe we can’t preach like What’s-his-name. Or sing like What’s-her-name. But that’s the whole point!!! God made you to be you!! Nobody else. In fact He doesn’t want you to be them because that would mean He would have to change the plans that  he has specifically for you! You can’t fulfil God’s plan for your brother or sister in Christ’s life… But you CAN fulfil His plan for your life when you realise who you are not and continue on the life-long journey of finding out why God made you you. What an exciting thought! What an awesome adventure! To think that the god that created the entire universe has a specific plan for your life!

But wait, I can hear it now… “Well I wish He would hurry up and tell me so I can get on with it!” Can I tell you, dear friend, that if you are living each day the best you can in personal living relationship with Jesus Christ, you are already walking in it. “Oh well that isn’t very exciting.” Ah but it is. I have learnt through many trials and patience testing times that life can change by the minute and we need Jesus to be a part of it. Expecting the unexpected has become the norm for me these days. I will share more of that in time to come. But we serve a living and all-powerful God that loves us and is committed to building and re-building the walls of our lives.

At the end of the day, we need to start to be as committed to our good as God is. And know that He is committed also to our change. He wants to help us build better lives and healthy minds. How do I know that? Because He is committed to His glory and we are his ambassadors on this earth.

In prayerful meditation ponder your own life and walk with Christ. Have you been trying to be someone you’re not? Get real with yourself and get real with God. Let Him be the saviour so that we can be free to be what we have been called to be… Children of the Most High God giving him all the glory.

 ^12-14″I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.”  Philippians 3:12  (MSG)

 Let’s press on together… as who God has individually made you & me.

His plan is best.