Who Do You Say I Am? (Part 2)

Diane and I have joined a small Anglican church, not far from where we are now living in Western Australia. On a recent Sunday, having had several conversations with people over coffee after the service, I was about to share my thoughts with Diane in the car on the way home.

To be honest, I was feeling a bit frustrated and under-valued. After many years in church leadership as a vicar, and more years as a teacher and leader within Ellel Ministries internationally, I have experienced respect and honour and been held in high esteem.
My new church family are unaware of all of this, and so I’m treated as just an ordinary person!

I was about to say to Diane, “Don’t they know who I am?” but in that moment God spoke to me, saying “Who do you say you are?”

That was awkward! The Holy Spirit quickly convicted me of the truth that I am not what I do, or did, or what I am capable of doing. In fact, the people in the church do know me!
I reveal who I am in the way I listen, care for them, laugh and share with them.

As I shared this with a friend this week, he sensed another aspect for me to consider. He felt the Father was asking me another, related, question. “Who do I say you are?” Is my identity in what I do, or in who He knows me to be, His beloved son? Knowing this, truly knowing this, releases me to be able to just ‘be’ me.

This is what counts in relationships – in church, or workplace, or at home with those we love.

So, three questions. Who do I say Jesus is? Who do I say I am? And, Who does God say I am? I’m still processing all of this.

What about you?

Prayer: Abba Father, please help me to move from knowing the answers to these questions just in my intellect, to living out the truth in my daily walk with You and others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.