There is a song by Casting Crowns called 'Who am I'.
It is a great reminder that God loves us for who we are and that we are not defined by our past.
The song represents your life and how Christ loves you and is there for you always and in your presence. 'Who I am' is a question that we need to ask ourselves and figure out who we are as a Christian and understand what actually defines us. We also need to ask ourselves does our past define who we are or does God play an active role in defining who we are as individuals and Christians?
This past weekend, at a college retreat, the points were Integrity, Faith vs. Doubt, Identity and mindfulness that tied-in together. Each one ties together by one link and that link is they are very important and go together.
The definition of integrity is doing the right thing even when nobody is looking for there is always one person who is always watching, God. A great example of this is a ball of yarn that everybody eventually has in their life. At one point, we hide the truth and sometimes the smallest thing can cause it to unravel bringing out the truth.
When we hide the truth and start to unravel it can cause a mess that we may have not wanted to come out, however the truth prevails. 1 Chronicles 28:17 says "I know my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy, how willingly your people who are here have given to to you."
Some of the choices we make today can greatly impact tomorrow.
We need to choose to live our lives with integrity and be honest with ourselves and with God. As Christians, we need to try to live our lives with integrity and honesty.
I think of Job, who lost everything, but continued to be faithful. Job 2:3 says "Then the Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason'."
As Christians, we should take this example to heart and strive to live a life with integrity just like Job.
Sometimes many people feel that they can hide, but may be unaware that there is always one watching and that is God for He is always watching. You can run, but you can't hide from the Father for he watches you and having integrity is a key factor.
We need to be honest with ourselves and take a deep look into our hearts and be honest with God.
Psalm 139: 23-24 says "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
We also need to think about faith and how sometimes the smallest amount of faith can make a difference. .
Luke 13:19 says "It is like a mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it." This is a great representation of what even the smallest amount of faith can have and even if you have a small bit of Faith it can grow and develop throughout the rest of your life.
I think of Peter and how he had tremendous faith to be willing to step out of the boat and walk to Jesus. However, Peter started to doubt and fall. Think about a time in your life where your faith was shaken to a point that you began to doubt and the actions that followed. Did you ask for help when you felt like you were falling? Most individuals do not like the action of asking for help, however we are not able to do it on our own and we need to allow God to take care of us like a father taking care of his child for we are God's children and spending time with Him will help the relationship grow.
Matthew 14:22-32 says "And straightway he constrained the disciples to enter the boat, and to go before him unto the other side, till he should send the multitudes away .And after he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain apart to pray: and when even was come, he was there alone. But the boat was now in the midst of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night he came unto them, walking upon the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a ghost; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, 'Be of good cheer; it is I; do not be afraid'. And Peter answered him and said,' Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee upon the waters'. And he said, 'Come'. And Peter went down from the boat and walked upon the waters to come to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying Lord, save me. And Immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and took hold of him, and saith unto him, 'O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?' And when they were gone up into the boat, the wind ceased.
Peter is a great example of what faith versus doubt looks like and we need to not doubt that Jesus will be our side ready for us. Doubt sometimes gets in the way of our faith and it can cause us to sink, however God will help us and take care of us if we allow him to. Like a father caring for his child, God loves his children and wants them to put their faith in him and allow it to grow by spending time with him in prayer. Realizing that we can't make it on our own.
One thing we need to think about is what actually defines us as Christians.
Do you let your past determine who you are, or do you let your burdens that you carry identify who you are as a person or as a Christian in general?
Matthew 11:28-30 says "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your soul. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Think about this: If somebody asked you to identify yourself how would you respond? Would you respond that you are simply a Christian or your occupation, or would you identify yourself as your past for the mistakes that you made to help you to learn or would you identify yourself as a child of God? These are the questions we need to be thinking about when trying to figure out our identity in Christ. Faith, Integrity and understanding can also help you to figure out where your heart is. Matthew 6:34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself."
Each day has enough trouble of its own. It ties into the second lesson by asking for help and God says not to worry for he he will provide. We need to think about where our heart is and how much do we actually rely on God?
Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all of your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
We need to let Go, let Christ, rely on God, and let Him define who you are as a Christian
Search your heart and let Him in. Spend some time with Him, let go of what is holding you back and rely on Him. Imagine a young child anxiously awaiting to see their daddy, after he has been gone for a long period of time. Now, picture God as that Father who awaits for his child and wants them to put their faith in Him, to rely on him and let him help you.
A-men.
