Who Am I - I Am a Soldier

 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:10–20 ESV).

 

The Bible is clear that we are engaged in a spiritual battle taking place between good and evil, between God’s kingdom of light and Satan’s kingdom of darkness. So, when we place our faith in Jesus, we not only become part of a family; we also enter a battlefield. We enlist in a mission to serve faithfully in God’s kingdom. So, what does it mean to be faithful spiritual soldiers? There are three principles that we ought to be aware of in understanding this characteristic of our new life in Christ:

 

§  First, our commitment is a pledge of unwavering allegiance to Jesus as our King. We wholeheartedly acknowledge his sovereignty and yield to his authority. We recognize that chaos would result within and around us without submitting to Jesus’ authority. He is our leader and commanding officer in this battle.

 

§  Second, to be good soldiers we ought to know our enemy. We understand that our battle is “not against flesh and blood,” as Paul puts it, but against spiritual powers. We also understand that neither conventional weapons, brute force, nor human strategies are going to defeat our spiritual enemy. We should study the enemy, know his game plan, and understand how to defeat him—with fervent prayer, godly praise, and self-sacrificial love.

 

§  Third, as good soldiers we are also equipped for battle. We practice spiritual disciplines and put on the armor of God so that we can “stand against the devil’s schemes” and faithfully execute their mission.

 

 

Who Am I - I Am a Saint

 

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:1–6 ESV).

 

A doghouse next to a skyscraper seems to be completely out of place. Yet, that seems to be how many believers think of themselves compared to the “saints” of the Bible. Most of us think of some revered religious person when the word “saint” is used to describe someone. According to the Roman Catholic Church a saint is someone who is in heaven, including those never officially recognized on earth. They must be “canonized” by the church before officially recognizing these people with the title. Canonization takes place when deceased individuals are authoritatively declared to be in heaven and "worthy of universal veneration". That leaves most of us out of this designation. Although the Apostle Paul has a different understanding in our reading today. He declares all the believers in this letter to be “saints”. That is due to the truth that Jesus’ work of grace in our lives make us saints. It is not a designation based on our worth; it is based on the work of Jesus on our behalf.

 

Though most of us don’t see ourselves as saints, that is what we are when we believe in Jesus. Because of his work, we are being sanctified, made holy, as we live out our lives serving the Lord—and that means we are saints. Because of Jesus, I am not what I or others will often perceive me to be. Instead, I am who God declares me to be. Through Jesus’ sacrifice for my sake, I am now declared righteous and holy.

 

Paul understood that we are profoundly transformed in God’s sight when we come to faith in Jesus. That’s why Paul begins his letter to the Ephesian believers by addressing them as “God’s holy people.” Literally, he refers to them as “the saints in Ephesus.” Despite being new to the faith and still having a long way to go in their spiritual development, Paul recognizes them as saints.

 

A saint is someone consecrated to God and set apart for God’s service. Through baptism, believers are marked as God’s treasured possession, set apart for his divine purposes. Just as it would be foolish to build only a doghouse on the foundation of a skyscraper, it would be foolish to build anything less than a sanctified life on the foundation Jesus established for us.

 

Who Am I - I Am a Servant

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:20–28 ESV).

 

What is the pinnacle of achievement, the ultimate honor in life? The Nobel Prize is widely considered the most prestigious award globally, recognized for its impact across various fields, while other awards like the EGOT in entertainment and top film festival honors also hold significant prestige. There are military honors like the Medal of Honor or Purple Heart, given for sacrifice and bravery.  And there are "The Big Four": The Academy Awards (Oscars), Golden Globes, BAFTA Awards, and SAG Awards which are generally considered the most significant film awards. And there are Academic and Scientific Distinctions; as well as the International Olympiad Medals. Jesus explained that the highest honor and the greatest achievement in life is to be recognized as a servant of God. In God’s kingdom, this calling is second to none.

 

From our Scripture today we learn that Jesus measures success differently than we do. He doesn’t rate us by material wealth, academic accolades, corporate status, or athletic prowess. Rather, he calls us to humble service, teaching us to use our talents and resources for selfless service to others.

 

Jesus’ disciples had quarreled about who should have the high ranks in his kingdom. They were ready to vie for a throne but not for a servant’s towel. But true greatness, joy, and fulfillment are not found in gratifying oneself. In God’s economy, these things emerge organically as a result of serving God and others.

 

Jesus not only preached this principle; he exemplified it by laying down his own life for us. When our everyday lifestyle consists of serving others, we honor God—and in turn we are blessed.

  

Who Am I - I Am a Pilgrim

 

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:8–16 ESV).

 

The great question for believers is whether we will live the life of a pilgrim or a tourist? A pilgrim is someone who travels to a place where they long to be. Following a kind of calling, they might journey to a sacred place where they can worship. Or they might move around, ever seeking a place to call home. Followers of Jesus are pilgrims who are called to live for God as they travel through life on their way to their eternal home. A tourist simply wanders from one experience to another. There is no real involvement in where they are except to gain pleasure from it.

 

Our reading today tells about a pilgrim named Abraham, who followed God’s call to go and live in a land that God would show him. God led Abraham to the land of Canaan, where he pitched his tent and worshiped the Lord (Genesis 12:1-8). Yet Abraham lived as a stranger and foreigner in that land. His security was not in a plot of land but in the plan of God. He envisioned an eternal city, to which he spent a lifetime traveling. Abraham lived as a pilgrim rather than as a permanent settler. Walking by faith rather than by sight, he modeled what it means to follow the Lord.

 

A pilgrim is also different from a settler. Pilgrims never feel totally comfortable with the values and lifestyles of their surrounding cultures. They are careful not to drive their stakes too deeply into the ground. They live with a holy detachment, careful not to hold on to places or things so tightly that they can’t go on without them. Pilgrims also regularly long for home. In other words, they live with eternal aspirations, not simply earthly ones.

 

Which are you… God’s intent is that you live as He has called you. Be a pilgrim!

 

Who Am I - I Am a Masterpiece in Process

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:4–10 ESV).

 

The Mona Lisa is a half-length portrait by Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci. Painted on a poplar wood panel between 1503 and 1506, it is widely celebrated for the subject's enigmatic smile, her direct gaze at the viewer, and the revolutionary use of sfumato—a smoky blending technique. It is relatively small, measuring just 21 inches wide and 30 inches long. It is actually smaller than a common poster. Its current location is in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, where it has resided since 1797. It holds the Guinness World Record for the highest known painting insurance valuation, set in 1962 at $100 million, which is the equivalent to roughly $1 billion today. Of course, the truth is that its value is inestimable as it is unique and irreplaceable.

 

Imagine da Vinci carefully crafting this masterpiece. Each detail was carefully chosen to inspire appreciation, imagination, and more. In our Scripture passage today, we are reminded that we are God’s “handiwork” (His masterpiece). The original Greek text for “handiwork” in this passage was closely associated with “poetry.” In other words, we are considered as poetic works of art. We are molded and fashioned by the Lord of all into priceless treasures.

 

But our purpose is not simply to be put on display and admired by passersby. Instead, we are molded and shaped “to do good works.” God has purposes and plans for us to fulfill, assignments to complete. What’s more, God is still working in us. We are a good work in progress. We are called and led to keep learning, growing, trying, and trusting as we live by faith for the God who loves us and makes us part of his family. Whether we are bailing hay, studying for a test, teaching a child, washing dishes, creating a website, or doing any of a million other things—we are to work wholeheartedly for the Lord. By the work of our hands we are called to point others to the divine Master of all masterpieces.

  

Who Am I - I Am God's Beloved

 

But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. (Isaiah 43:1–5 ESV).

 

God created you in order to love you and to share a loving relationship with you. That is why you exist—to be cherished by your Creator and to reciprocate that love to him and radiate that love to others. For each one of us, this is the greatest foundational truth we can learn about our existence, and it helps immensely to shape our identity and sense of purpose. Being the beloved of God means your core identity is securely anchored in being dearly loved and cherished by Him. It replaces the need to earn worth through performance with the peace of knowing you are already accepted, chosen, and held by a love that never changes.

 

There are many, though, who may not always feel loved. Moments of feeling misunderstood, ignored, judged, or even rejected may overshadow your sense of worth. But the Bible reassures us of God’s deep and passionate love for each one of us. This love is unconditional. You are God’s beloved child—precious, esteemed, and honored in his sight. Go ahead and remind yourself of this truth as often as necessary.

 

God’s love isn’t based on our actions or achievements. It transcends our successes, failures, possessions, status, lineage, position, education, and everything else about us. There’s nothing we can do to earn more of God’s love or to diminish it. God’s love is consistent, steadfast, and true.

 

Understanding that we are cherished, valued, and treasured by the Creator of the universe should shift our entire perspective. As we embrace this truth, fears and anxieties should diminish. We can live with a new sense of peace and contentment, knowing we are beloved by him.

Who Am I - I Am Valued Beyond Measure

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:9–12 ESV).

 

So many people today are struggling for the right to define themselves. It’s as if they are saying, “I will invent or reinvent myself, and you must accept me for who I choose to be.” But this places immense pressure on people. It also brings on volatility and exhaustion as people try to navigate life together. It is amazing how subtle this deception is. We have come to believe our identity is somehow based on career or position. Some have even come to believe that wealth is the measure of their value. This deception always brings a sense of instability in our lives. It makes us think we are never enough.

 

God recognizes our need for a stable, reliable identity—one that can sustain us amid the ups and downs of life. He also knows we cannot invent the identity we need. So, God made a new life possible for us through Jesus Christ. Jesus willingly gave up his glory, power, and privilege. He came to sacrifice himself on the cross to atone for our sins against God and each other. Through faith in him, we receive his love and righteousness. Our identity is anchored in him rather than in our achievements or others’ opinions of us.

 

James in our reading today urges believers who have prospered and become wealthy to recognize their humble position as sinners saved by grace. And he encourages believers who are struggling financially to embrace their exalted position in Christ—loved, accepted, and cherished by God. By doing these things, we can avoid a false sense of value. We can be secure in Him!