Who are you . What do you have to say for yourself? (John 1:22)
Who am I?
Sometimes our answer varies depending on who is asking the question. In an alumni group, I readily claim my alma mater. In a moms group, my children make me the voice of experience. At a political rally, I may identify myself as a partisanor an independent. Yet none of these identities gets to the core of who I am. They may have to do with important activities, relationships, or ideas, but they only scratch the surface of my core identity. Sometimes disclaimers can help: Im not a fanatic, a social climber, or a recluse. But even these negative statements dont unveil my inner life.
John was quick to tell his questioners who he was not: not the long-awaited Messiah, not Elijah rising from the legendary past, not even a prophet claiming to speak for God. So who was he? By his answer, he made his message much more important than himself. They might discount his dress or lifestyle, his background or credentials, but they dare not disregard his ringing call to make straight the way of the Lord (John 1:23).
In a similar way, the true gauge of my identity lies not in how I look or what Ive accomplished. It lies in how I point to the One who is coming, the One who provides the only answer to every human longing. Sometimes I will point to Jesus by my life, sometimes with words. In either case, the message is clearest when it arises straight out of who God says I am.
Who are you? Take some time in prayer today to ponder this question. Let the Lord show you: you are a child of the King. You are a sinner saved by grace. You are a believer begging for help with your unbelief. You are the Lords beloved, whom he has redeemed and given a new song to sing.
Let the Spirit write these truths on your heart. Recall them during the rough times of the day, and celebrate them during the good times. Then you wont be able to help smiling as you point to the Savior of the world.
Father, thank you for setting your love upon me. I want my life to give clear witness to you.
1 John 2:22-28; Psalm 98:1-4