He is, I am (Matthew 16:13-18)
Identity is probably one of the things we struggle with the most as we go through life. From Jr. High Awkwardness to Mid-life crises We all go through seasons where we ask the question, who am I?
Although this is a very introspective question that we should ask from time to time, if the question never gets answered correctly we will be left with confusion and frustration. We will begin to try to find our identity in the things we do and the things we accomplish rather than who we are and what we were created to be. God has a purpose and a plan for your life and that purpose and plan are seen in who you are.
The best place to discover who you are is in the safety of who He is. In the passage we are looking at today this is exactly what is taking place. Jesus asks the the disciples what people are saying about Him. Jesus then turns the question specifically towards them and asks. "who do you say that I am?" Simon excitedly replies, "you the Christ the Son of the Living God." In vs. 18 Jesus replies to Simon saying, "and I tell you, you are Peter.
This is such an exciting dialogue to me because simply by discovering who Jesus was Simon discovered who he was. He was Simon (a reed) before and in one encounter with Jesus he becomes Peter (rock). This tells me that if I want to discover who I am I must know who He is. The more I know Him the more my Identity is revealed to me. This happens as I worship Him and as I spend time reading the Bible.
It says in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. It says in Romans 1:16-17 that the righteousness of God (us) is revealed through the gospel (The Bible). In other words the more I read the Bible the more I discover about myself and the more my identity is seen. It is as if I am looking in a mirror. This brings me security and confidence because I do not have to find my identity in a job or a human relationship but I find my identity in Christs Jesus.
It is time to stop trying to discover yourself and just look to Him and as you discover more of Him you will discover more of yourself.
Thanks for listening.
Tomorrows Bible Reading - 1 Samuel 31, Jeremiah 6, Matthew 17
Dream Big, Ben
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