Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Colossians 3: 23-24 (NIV)“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3: 16-17 (NIV)
Who am I? Who are you?
If we’re honest with ourselves, it’s a question which came to mind throughout our lives. And a question which still arises with haunting regularity.
Who am I?
Who are you?
So many of us allow the world to answer that question for us.
Actually, I would venture to say that at some time or another all of us have allowed the world to answer that question for us.
And by doing that, we have allowed the world to define who we are.
Who am I?
Who are you?
The world tends to whisper or scream in our ears— “What have you done for me lately?”
And sadly, when we hear and ponder that, we tend to head out to do something else to try meet the world’s expectations for our lives.
To feel worthy.
The expectations come from many places. Parents. Family. Friends. Coaches. Sportscasters. Fans. Wall street. Political pundits. Congregations. Polls.
In the world of sports, athletes, coaches and administrators too often allow their worth to be determined by won-loss records, box scores, press clippings and revenue streams.
We’re the same wherever we find ourselves—affirmed at times, not affirmed, or criticized at other times.
Good press clippings, fan applause, affirmation. We’re ready to move ahead.
Critical clippings, quiet or booing fans, no affirmation. Our heads lower, and our energy and motivation are gone.
Who am I? Who are you?
Maybe the answer is really found when we consider and answer this question— “Who are we living for?”
The approval and applause of the world?
Or the One the Apostle Paul points us to in the passage of scripture above in Colossians—the Lord? The One who gave His life for you and for me, because He loves us.
In their song “Who Am I”, Casting Crowns agrees with what the Apostle Paul says, with these words—
“Not because of who I am,
But because of what You’ve done (for me).
Not because of what I’ve done,
But because of who You are (Christ).
I am a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean, a vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I’m calling, Lord, you catch me when I’m falling.
And you’ve told me who I am—I am Yours.”
A suggestion for the next time the question comes to mind again—
“Who am I?”
Remember this answer demonstrated by Christ’s love for you and for me—
“I am Yours!”
Then move on with Him.
In His Name–Scott
