And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" Exodus 3:14
Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. And the Jews marveled, saying, "How does this Man know letters, having never studied?" Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. John 7:14-18
So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 16: 14-17"Who do they say that I am?" Jesus asked Peter. He gave some pretty good answers. Jesus asked him two times here. Who do you say that I am? Who do you say that Jesus is? To me He is everything because without Him I am nothing. But who do they say that you are? Do they call you Christian or are you living with one foot in the world?
A man was talking with another man at work. Man number one never said anything about God or going to church and out of the blue the second man asked him, "Are you a Christian?" The first man said. "Why yes, I am. How did you know?" The second man said, "It shows." Looking down the first man wondered if he was wearing a pin or a shirt that said 'I love Jesus' or something. The second man noticing responded with, "In the way you live your life at work. In the way you treat others, it shows. I know of course because I am one too."
Has this ever happened to you? Can others tell that you have the Christ dwelling in you? That same Holy Spirit that gave Peter the insight that Jesus was the Christ is in you. Think for a moment. Look in your spiritual mirror and be honest with your self; does it show? Can others really tell there is something different about you or do you go around with curses coming out of your mouth or a complaining attitude all over the place? Do you know that when someone complains to you it begins to follow you around? You begin to be just as cantankerous as the child who whines in your ear all day long if that's all that you hear. We need to quiet the complainers and point them to Jesus! We need to share with them the reason to rejoice in God our Savior!
The way you live grows on you; it shows. If you live your life crying about everything you are doing and fussing about having to clean the house, or do the dishes or laundry; then you will walk out of the house and complain about the line being so long at the check out. The people around you are not going to think you are a Christian if you go around complaining all the time. What is more if they already know you are a Christian they will not want to be one because you are always complaining about how unfair life is to you!
Now, ask yourself this question. Who do you say that you are? Take a moment today and think on whether or not you are presenting yourself as a Christian or if you are hanging on to the world just enough to look 'cool' in the eyes of the world. Do you buy the newest thing on the market just to look like the world, Or, do you buy what you know will work best for what the Lord has for you to do with it?
Do you take time to ask the Lord what to do with your day, or do you do what you think will make life easier for you?
Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 2Timothy 2:14-16
Take the time right now if you have not yet, ask Him what His plan for you is today and ask Him to direct your path today, and tomorrow, and tomorrow's tomorrow. Now, trust Him to show you, to guide you and make everything work out how He wants it to; no matter what you go through He will be there.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, don't try to understand everything all at once in your own way, but allow His presence to be constant in your life and He will show you what and where to go. (Proverbs 3:5-6 paraphrased).
Dear heavenly Father, Help me to represent you, that I may present myself approved by You, humble and acceptable to You showing others the way to go home. Help us to always be a light in the darkness and not to walk in the dusk of life but to look to the sunrise and know you will always be there. In Jesus name, amen.
Suggested readings: 2 timothy 2:1-26, 2 Corinthians 10;1-18, Matthew 16:1-17, John 7-all.