Who Am I?
Devotionals on “Who Am I?
The ‘I AM’ Statements of Jesus”
Devotional 1 -Introduction Part 1: “Who Am I?”
Questions fill our existence. We love to seek answers to life’s great mysteries, leading us to explore and search. From sending probes to the furthest reaches of space to diving into the depths of the oceans to peering into an electron microscope to search the subatomic, we are intrigued by seeking answers to find “what else is out there?” For many, this kind of exploration is driven by more than just curiosity. It is powered by a need to find answers. We explore oftentimes to find more than just what is out there; we explore in the hopes of finding what is in here- inside of us. We are desperate to answer life’s most basic of questions involving who we are. What are some of these questions that fill our minds? Why am I here? Does my life have meaning? Where did I and everything come from? Where are we all going? Maybe you have never consciously asked these questions but they linger down deep in the soul of us all.
What about this most basic of questions, “Who are you?” Take a moment and think about it. How do you go about answering it? It is a simple question in length of words and very basic grammatically but one of such depth and complexity that pages and pages of writing and years of self-exploration may not be enough to answer it completely. So, if we struggle to answer this most basic of questions, what hope do we have of knowing ourselves and being known by others?
Have you ever been in a situation where you had to introduce yourself to others by answering basic questions and/or sending a picture of yourself? “Tell us a little about you”, it was said, “by answering these questions: what is your name, where do you go to school/church, how old are you? Give us details about your family, activities, and favorite movie.” But were the details you shared enough to answer this larger question, “Who are you?” Does your picture give a full-orbed definition of who you are?
The answer to these questions is, no! No picture can capture the heart of who we are. They can give insights into how we look at any given time. They can share aspects of physical traits, showing to whom we are related, but no picture can capture the essence of who we are in its entirety. No answer to simple questions like the ones asked, can give a full picture of all of the depth and dimensions of our inner selves. No recitation of likes/dislikes, hobbies, or favorite movies can share the fullness of our being. And these questions were not meant to give a complete picture of who each of us is as an individual. They simply seek to get the ball rolling to introduce you to others. Even spending weeks together may not be enough time for each person in a group to be fully known by everyone else. Would a month be enough time? How about a year? Or five? Can we say that there is anyone on this planet who knows us so well that they could, with absolute certainty and precision answer this question about us? And don’t we long to be known and accepted? So many people in this world live with great fear and anxiety and hopelessness because they wonder, deep down, “If anyone really, truly, deeply knew me, would they still love or even like me?” Have you ever wondered this?
So, the even greater question beyond, “Does anyone else really know me?”, is, “Do we know ourselves?” Can we answer the question, “Who am I?” We, who should know ourselves better than anyone in this world. We, who should be able to summarize ourselves for others, present an accurate picture of who we are, and share a representation of “us”, don’t do very well with this either. Our emotions swirl and cloud our thoughts and actions, keeping us from seeing the world, others, and ourselves with clarity. Our struggles and sin mar and cloud any attempt to answer this most basic of questions.
In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13) What does this have to do with our answering the question about ourselves, “Who am I?” Are they related? Does it matter Who Jesus is or what others say about Him? Let’s explore these questions together over the next few weeks. Our series in Youth
Group this summer is, “The I AM Statements of Jesus”. We hope that you will join us each Sunday night, but if you cannot make it each week, these follow up devotionals are to help you catch up and to go a little deeper in understanding yourself, in light of Who Jesus is!
So, What Now?
If you already have many of these questions settled in your heart and mind through a relationship with Jesus, will you worship anew today as you marvel at the answers that He has given? Will you seek to tell others about how they too might have a “peace that passes understanding” (Philippians 4:7)? Share with one person today the joy of this peace. This peace from plaguing questions that confuse and cloud the minds of so many in this world, filling them with anxiety and hopeless searching.
If these questions are still fuzzy or unanswered in your own heart, will you prayerfully ask God to bring clarity to your heart and mind, so that you too might have this peace and hope?