Who?

Jesus and his disciples headed up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi, and as they were walking, He asked, “Who do people say I am?”

“Well” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.”

Then Jesus asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

Peter spoke up and said, “You are the Messiah.” (Reference Mark 8:27-29)

I love the framework of this conversation. Simple questions…that are applicable to you and I today. And that have the potential to lead to intimate moments with our God.

Let’s take some time this morning, to personally reflect on who God is, just as Jesus asked the disciples.

“Who do people say God is?”

“But who do you say God is?”

Do these answers differ from what people you know say of God, to who you say God is? And if there’s a difference, what is it? How have you personally come to know God, in a way that you would state who He is? And how do you know this to be true?

Now let’s switch the questioning inward, in reflection of us.

“Who do people say I am?”

“But who does God say I am?”

Whose voice do you typically listen to most in reflecting about yourself? How do the voices of others change how you view yourself? How does knowing who God says you are, change how you view yourself?

I like and dislike personal reflection questions like this, because often it brings awareness to me, that I have some internal work to do – some readjustments to my thought patterns. Have I gotten to know God in a new light, that I am seeing /understanding /acknowledging more of Him? Am I trusting and believing of myself, the words that God says of me? Do I believe who He says I am? If not, what’s standing in the way?

As we head into another weekend, may we be reminded to never stop wrestling out our faith. To never stop asking ourselves questions that allow the Holy Spirit, to reveal to us ways we can be growing in deeper relationship with Him. And may we be determined to spend some time alone with Him this weekend. Amen?