who do you say i am

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to come to know you more deeply each day.  Help us to see who you really are, and let that knowledge transform us back into the people you dreamt us to be.  For your kingdom and your glory.  Amen.

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Journal: Who do you say that he is these days?  Who does he say you are?  How are the two connected?

Reflection: “My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am.  And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are.  You are Peter, a rock.” (Mathew 16:17-18, The Message)

     It is impossible to truly know who we are apart from Jesus.  After all, he is the one who made us, he is the one who dreamt us into being.  He is the only one who knows exactly what was breathed into us before the foundations of the world were made.  So he alone can tell us who we really are.  He alone can give us a true sense of identity.

     And in order for us to discover who we really are, we must discover who he really is first.  The two are vitally linked.  When we discover who Jesus really is, he helps us to discover who we really are—just ask Simon Peter.  In fact, who we are only makes sense in the context of who he is.  So regardless of how hard I may try to make a name for myself in this life, any name that I can make, or achieve, or create for myself can only be false.  Identity can never be achieved, it can only be bestowed.  And it can only be bestowed by the Creator.  Therefore, when we, like Simon Peter, recognize who Jesus really is, then he is able to tell us who we really are, and what our role is in his kingdom.

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, it all begins and ends with you.  Help us to never forget that.  May we, this day, be who and what you created us to be—nothing more and nothing less.  May we, this day, be more concerned with your kingdom than we are with our own.  Amen.