Who am I...?
Who am I? What makes up who I am and who I am perceived to be by others?
If I call myself a Christian, and am not lying, then everything else will flow from that identity. But what does it mean to be a Christian? Who am I, Colby Roy Anderson, if I say that I am a Christian?
If I am not lying, then I am implying certain things about myself that others, if they claim to be Christians and are not lying, should be able to assume that I am either doing, or should be doing certain things...behaving in certain ways. If I am the sort of Christian that did not lie when he labeled himself so, then I would believe the Bible to be the one and only written word of God, fully complete in it's purposed ability to guide and direct and bring us close to God through the study of a living Book. If so then I am...
-obedient and not rebellious or arrogant (1 Samuel 15:22-23)
-I will not only delight in the Lord, but I will trust Him as well (Psalm 37:3-4)
-I be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry (James 1:19)
-I will not be a mirror of the world's moral corruption, doing as it does (James 1:21)
-I will be a doer of the Word of God, not just a hearer (James 1:22)
-I will not speak carelessly or recklessly, and in doing so harm my witness and the integrity of my walk with the Lord, instead my words will bring healing, bring life (James 1:26, James 3:2-12, Proverbs 21:23, Ephesians 4:29, Proverbs 15:1-2, 4,7, 23, Proverbs 12:18-19, 23, Proverbs 13:1-3, Psalm 34:1-3, 13, 1 Peter 3:10, Proverbs 17:28, Psalm 141:3...etc).
-I will not lie, but rather, I will speak and live in honesty and truth (Proverbs 12:22)
-I will not only not be a mirror for the world, but I will turn my eyes, my heart, my mind and my soul to the good things that are praiseworthy, dwelling on them and living in the enjoyment of them (Philippians 4:8).
-I will worship and praise the Lord (Luke 4:8, Deuteronomy 6:13)
...there is so much more, so many ways to use scripture to describe just who I am. Have I been brainwashed by the Bible? I dearly, with all my heart, hope so. Think on what assaults us through the various forms of media in this country. Even hearing conversations in passing while out in public have been strange, hearing terrible things said to others in terrible ways. And the worst part is that, because they identify with their sin, these people are deadened to the impact of their actions.
And that's another thing that marks a true believer. If there is no vulnerability, at least to some small degree, then I would question not whether or not the Holy Spirit is working within, but whether or not the person is listening and doing in response to such work.
Vulnerability is not brokenness. We are all either sons of Adam or daughters of Eve and are therefore born into brokenness. Vulnerability, in it's intended use, is the mixing of...
1. the admission of brokennes
2. the understanding that only Jesus can restore us to our whole
3. the acceptance of the sacrifice of Jesus
4. the consistent (however imperfect) living out the resurrection of Jesus (as detailed throughout scripture)
If you do these things, you will find that your heart is vulnerable. Guard it (Proverbs 4:23) but do not put it in a box and hide it away.
Who am I? I am a Christian, a vulnerable, weak, fearful, Christian. But as I embrace my vulnerability, I find renewed delight in deeper conversations with God and with others. And it is so much easier to live in complete honesty. As I embrace my weakness, I realize that only God can be my strength. He is the source of my strength and in full awareness of my weakness I must be forever running to Him...as I was made to do. As I embrace my fear, I acknowledge that I will never know enough, never control enough, never be enough to satisfy a Godless me. But I am not Godless.
I am a Christian. A true follower.
So who am I? I am a Christian. And all else about me will flow from this core.
If you claim Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you must also acknowledge Him as dwelling down in the deepest of deeps, where your soul stirs and where you heart yearns. If He is not there, then you are not a Christian...
...but perhaps you are not fully lost either (Romans 1:18-32). Perhaps you are tasting...(Psalm 34:8).
You need but taste once and you will know. If you taste more you are not tasting, but stalling, saying "Lord save me, just not yet."
Be careful...Isaiah 55:6 God's love is eternal, but the time He has given us is not.
Choose this day whom you will serve (Joshua 24:14-15).
Choose this day to answer...who am I?
I am a child of God, an heir, a lion cub running across the open plains at the heel of the great and untamed Lion of Judah...
I am...a lion cub. And I love to hear my father roar. For He is untamed, and wild, and fierce.
Who are you?
If I call myself a Christian, and am not lying, then everything else will flow from that identity. But what does it mean to be a Christian? Who am I, Colby Roy Anderson, if I say that I am a Christian?
If I am not lying, then I am implying certain things about myself that others, if they claim to be Christians and are not lying, should be able to assume that I am either doing, or should be doing certain things...behaving in certain ways. If I am the sort of Christian that did not lie when he labeled himself so, then I would believe the Bible to be the one and only written word of God, fully complete in it's purposed ability to guide and direct and bring us close to God through the study of a living Book. If so then I am...
-obedient and not rebellious or arrogant (1 Samuel 15:22-23)
-I will not only delight in the Lord, but I will trust Him as well (Psalm 37:3-4)
-I be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry (James 1:19)
-I will not be a mirror of the world's moral corruption, doing as it does (James 1:21)
-I will be a doer of the Word of God, not just a hearer (James 1:22)
-I will not speak carelessly or recklessly, and in doing so harm my witness and the integrity of my walk with the Lord, instead my words will bring healing, bring life (James 1:26, James 3:2-12, Proverbs 21:23, Ephesians 4:29, Proverbs 15:1-2, 4,7, 23, Proverbs 12:18-19, 23, Proverbs 13:1-3, Psalm 34:1-3, 13, 1 Peter 3:10, Proverbs 17:28, Psalm 141:3...etc).
-I will not lie, but rather, I will speak and live in honesty and truth (Proverbs 12:22)
-I will not only not be a mirror for the world, but I will turn my eyes, my heart, my mind and my soul to the good things that are praiseworthy, dwelling on them and living in the enjoyment of them (Philippians 4:8).
-I will worship and praise the Lord (Luke 4:8, Deuteronomy 6:13)
...there is so much more, so many ways to use scripture to describe just who I am. Have I been brainwashed by the Bible? I dearly, with all my heart, hope so. Think on what assaults us through the various forms of media in this country. Even hearing conversations in passing while out in public have been strange, hearing terrible things said to others in terrible ways. And the worst part is that, because they identify with their sin, these people are deadened to the impact of their actions.
And that's another thing that marks a true believer. If there is no vulnerability, at least to some small degree, then I would question not whether or not the Holy Spirit is working within, but whether or not the person is listening and doing in response to such work.
Vulnerability is not brokenness. We are all either sons of Adam or daughters of Eve and are therefore born into brokenness. Vulnerability, in it's intended use, is the mixing of...
1. the admission of brokennes
2. the understanding that only Jesus can restore us to our whole
3. the acceptance of the sacrifice of Jesus
4. the consistent (however imperfect) living out the resurrection of Jesus (as detailed throughout scripture)
If you do these things, you will find that your heart is vulnerable. Guard it (Proverbs 4:23) but do not put it in a box and hide it away.
Who am I? I am a Christian, a vulnerable, weak, fearful, Christian. But as I embrace my vulnerability, I find renewed delight in deeper conversations with God and with others. And it is so much easier to live in complete honesty. As I embrace my weakness, I realize that only God can be my strength. He is the source of my strength and in full awareness of my weakness I must be forever running to Him...as I was made to do. As I embrace my fear, I acknowledge that I will never know enough, never control enough, never be enough to satisfy a Godless me. But I am not Godless.
I am a Christian. A true follower.
So who am I? I am a Christian. And all else about me will flow from this core.
If you claim Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you must also acknowledge Him as dwelling down in the deepest of deeps, where your soul stirs and where you heart yearns. If He is not there, then you are not a Christian...
...but perhaps you are not fully lost either (Romans 1:18-32). Perhaps you are tasting...(Psalm 34:8).
You need but taste once and you will know. If you taste more you are not tasting, but stalling, saying "Lord save me, just not yet."
Be careful...Isaiah 55:6 God's love is eternal, but the time He has given us is not.
Choose this day whom you will serve (Joshua 24:14-15).
Choose this day to answer...who am I?
I am a child of God, an heir, a lion cub running across the open plains at the heel of the great and untamed Lion of Judah...
I am...a lion cub. And I love to hear my father roar. For He is untamed, and wild, and fierce.
Who are you?
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