Who Am I

 

The title of this post is also the name of a song by the Christian musical group, Casting Crowns. The thought-provoking lyrics provide food for thought regarding why the Almighty chooses to use lowly humans like us. (Here is my abridged version.) We often question what our moral fiber is made of for the task our Heavenly Father has laid before us.[i]

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love…

Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are…

If you are currently struggling with this, you are in good company, ordinary people (in extraordinary circumstances) like Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Jeremiah, Saul, David, Solomon, and Mary (the mother of Jesus) from the Bible desperately wanted the “who am I” question answered for themselves by the Almighty. (Make sure to check out this first endnote for more information on the above topic as viewed in scripture.)  [ii]

 Jesus always loved answering difficult questions through simple stores used to illustrate moral (or spiritual) lessons. These are called parables. They were as common to His followers back then (as Facebook is to us today).

 When our Savior wished to emphasize the importance of the Kingdom of Heaven in humanity’s spiritual identity, Jesus taught the Parables of the Mustard Seed (and Yeast) as found in Matthew 13:31-35 (GW):

 Jesus used another illustration. He said, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed that someone planted in a field. It’s one of the smallest seeds. However, when it has grown, it is taller than the garden plants. It becomes a tree that is large enough for birds to nest in its branches.” 

 He used another illustration. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast that a woman mixed into a large amount of flour until the yeast worked its way through all the dough.” Jesus used illustrations to tell the crowds all these things.

 He did not tell them anything without illustrating it with a story. So what the prophet had said came true: “I will open my mouth to illustrate points. I will tell what has been hidden since the world was made.”[iii]

 “Faith is not simply a private matter, or something we practice once a week at church. Rather, it should have a contagious effect on the broader world. Jesus used these images to illustrate [the Kingdom of Heaven]: a sprinkle of yeast causing the whole loaf to [raise]…the smallest seed in the garden growing into a great tree in which birds of the air come to nest. (Philip Yancey)

 I think faith is the small mustard seed of opportunities every day. For example, 'Am I going to love this person? Am I going to share my faith with this person? Am I going to pray that little prayer?' It really is a daily thing where you seize those little mustard seed opportunities and then see what God does. (Mark Batterson)

  So never lose an opportunity of urging a practical beginning (however small) for it is wonderful how often in such matters the mustard-seed germinates, and roots itself. (Florence Nightingale) If you've got just a little bit of faith as a grain of mustard seed, and begin to praise God, that faith will mount up until fear won't be able to stay in your heart. (Jack Coe) The Kingdom of [Heaven] is like a mustard seed. It happens quietly. It happens inevitably. Don’t underestimate God’s power. (Alistair Begg)

 Jesus made clear that the Kingdom of [Heaven] is organic, and not organizational. It grows like a seed and it works like leaven: secretly, invisibly, surprisingly, and irresistibly. (Os Guinness) We need to stop focusing on people leaving earth and focus on (like Jesus said) the Kingdom of [Heaven] is the yeast. Yeast invades dough. (Myles Munroe) Living life with a smile is like throwing yeast into a bowl of flour, adding warm water, and waiting for the flour to rise. It multiplies many times over. (John Templeton)

 If the kingdom of God is not first, it doesn't matter what's second. (Neal A. Maxwell) People must not only hear about the Kingdom of [Heaven] (but must see it in actual operation) on a small scale perhaps (and in imperfect form), but a real demonstration nevertheless. (Pandita Ramabai)

Transformation is a process (and as life happens) there are tons of ups and downs. It's a journey of discovery. There are moments on mountaintops and moments in deep valleys of despair. (Rick Warren)

 Many Christians have the mistaken notion that eternal life begins when they die. But that is not biblically accurate. Eternal life begins when we are born again into the Kingdom of [Heaven]. (David Jeremiah) The Kingdom of [Heaven] is for the broken hearted. (Fred Rogers)

 

 ‘Use me, God. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself’.” (Martin Luther King Jr.)[iv]

 

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[i] For those of you who have let me know (via Facebook or Google) the impact ENCOURAGE ME has had on you. Thanks for blessing me as a writer. If you ever have any encouraging stuff you want the blog group to know, please e-mail it to me at encouragementguru@gmail.com. I will do my best to make an interesting post out of it, and give you credit for it. God bless you.

 

[ii] But Gideon replied, “Sir, how can I save Israel? My family is the poorest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least thought of in the entire family.” Judges 6:15 (TLB)

 

But Moses pleaded, “O Lord, I’m just not a good speaker. I never have been, and I’m not now, even after you have spoken to me, for I have a speech impediment.” Exodus 4:10 (TLB)

 

 “Pardon me, sir,” Saul replied. “I’m from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of the tribe! You must have the wrong man.” 1 Samuel 9:21 (TLB)

 

Then David went into the Tabernacle and sat before the Lord and prayed, “O Lord God, why have you showered your blessings on such an insignificant person as I am?    2 Samuel 7:18 (TLB)

 

But who can ever build him a worthy home? Not even the highest heaven would be beautiful enough! And who am I to be allowed to build a temple for God? But it will be a place to worship him. 2 Chronicles 2:6 (TLB), Solomon
 
“O Lord God,” I said, “I can’t do that! I’m far too young! I’m only a youth!” Jeremiah 1:6 (TLB) Jeremiah
 
Gideon said to God, “If this is right, if you are using me to save Israel as you’ve said, then look: I’m placing a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If dew is on the fleece only, but the floor is dry, then I know that you will use me to save Israel, as you said.” Judges 6:36-37 (MSG)
 
I will bless you with incredible blessings and multiply your descendants into countless thousands and millions, like the stars above you in the sky, and like the sands along the seashore. They will conquer their enemies. Genesis 22:17 (TLB) Abraham
 
Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. Mary asked the angel, “But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin.” Luke 1:29, 34 (TLB) Mother of Jesus

 

[iii] Jesus is referring to Psalm 78:2 (GNT): “I am going to use wise sayings, and explain mysteries from the past.” 

[iv] This post was inspired by the sermon, It’s Like This: A Seed Growing  (installment two) Pastor Dave Jansen Sunday, February 5, 2017 CenterPoint Church Gahanna  Gahanna OH