Who We Are
I often hear that the Christian life is "so hard" to live out. There are so many things competing for our time, we simply don't have time to serve the needy, feed the poor, practice spiritual disciplines. We say, "It's not that it's not important, we're just too busy." (Well, we probably wouldn't admit out loud that it's not important, but we demonstrate things that are important by what we spend our time on.)
But is that really it? I mean, part of the reason Jesus came as a baby in a manger, grew up and walked among us is to show us how life with God is to be lived. Hebrews says he was tempted in every way we are (even with his schedule?), and yet without sin. In other words, he managed to live the life he calls us to live. He did it. Why can't we?
Is it just because we live in a different time? I don't think so. People have struggled with living out this faith ever since Jesus called us to it. I believe it's more a matter of one significant difference between us and Jesus. Well, okay, two. One, Jesus was God (though Paul says he "put aside" his privileges, but that's a discussion for another time). The other, main thing I was thinking of is this: Jesus knew who he was...and we spend a lot of time trying to figure out and/or prove "who we are."
At his baptism, Jesus was affirmed as God's beloved son. That's something affirmed in all three of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke). He was again affirmed on the Mount of Transfiguration, and again in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before his crucifixion. Jesus knew he was the beloved son of God, and therefore he didn't have to waste time "spinning his wheels" and trying to prove who he was. He could simply be about the business of walking and living faithfully...reaching out to the least, the last and the lost.
Us? Well, we might not put it quite this way, but we spend a lot of every day trying to prove who we are, trying to "earn love" from others or impress people we don't even like. We try to achieve to prove our worth, our value—and we end up spending all our time trying to find out who we are. But we've already been told who we are—we are children of God, loved by the heavenly Father. If we could deeply, truly take that to heart (and I'm preaching to myself as much as anyone here), we would have more time, energy and desire to reach the world with the good news.
Who am I? I am a beloved child of God in whom Christ dwells. It's an amazing truth. Let it soak into your soul today.
But is that really it? I mean, part of the reason Jesus came as a baby in a manger, grew up and walked among us is to show us how life with God is to be lived. Hebrews says he was tempted in every way we are (even with his schedule?), and yet without sin. In other words, he managed to live the life he calls us to live. He did it. Why can't we?
Is it just because we live in a different time? I don't think so. People have struggled with living out this faith ever since Jesus called us to it. I believe it's more a matter of one significant difference between us and Jesus. Well, okay, two. One, Jesus was God (though Paul says he "put aside" his privileges, but that's a discussion for another time). The other, main thing I was thinking of is this: Jesus knew who he was...and we spend a lot of time trying to figure out and/or prove "who we are."
At his baptism, Jesus was affirmed as God's beloved son. That's something affirmed in all three of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke). He was again affirmed on the Mount of Transfiguration, and again in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before his crucifixion. Jesus knew he was the beloved son of God, and therefore he didn't have to waste time "spinning his wheels" and trying to prove who he was. He could simply be about the business of walking and living faithfully...reaching out to the least, the last and the lost.
Us? Well, we might not put it quite this way, but we spend a lot of every day trying to prove who we are, trying to "earn love" from others or impress people we don't even like. We try to achieve to prove our worth, our value—and we end up spending all our time trying to find out who we are. But we've already been told who we are—we are children of God, loved by the heavenly Father. If we could deeply, truly take that to heart (and I'm preaching to myself as much as anyone here), we would have more time, energy and desire to reach the world with the good news.
Who am I? I am a beloved child of God in whom Christ dwells. It's an amazing truth. Let it soak into your soul today.
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