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!

  

Who Am I - I Am a New Creation

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:16–19 ESV).

 

I am sure you have heard some of the profound “I am” statements of Jesus: “I am the bread of life”; “I am the light of the world”; “I am the good shepherd” (John 6:35; 8:12; 10:11, 14). Jesus lived an effective, purposeful life because he knew his identity. With unwavering clarity, he knew he was the Son of God sent to redeem the world. This is the anticipated goal of our study in the coming weeks. As we explore the meaning of our identity, we’ll find a number of ways to describe ourselves in light of the ways God has created us.

 

So often we cling to false notions about identity. We focus on things like athletic prowess, academic achievements, or career success. Or we highlight how funny, famous, or fit we are. Or even how good a parent we are. But what happens when the applause fades? Do we maintain a firm grasp of who we are?

 

The apostle Paul explains that when a person comes to faith in Jesus, they undergo a profound transformation. In some ways like a caterpillar emerging as a butterfly, believers transform to become a new creation in Christ. This ought to fundamentally alter the way we think and act. Our identity is no longer defined by fleeting ideas but, rather, by our relationship with Christ.

 

Two things come to mind for me. First, we do gain a new identity. We are not just a repaired version of our old self; we are fundamentally recreated by God. Second, we now possess the forgiveness of our past. "Old things have passed away" implies that our past sins, guilt, and old way of life are forgiven and gone. Even more incredible this same forgiveness extends to our future life of grace in Christ. We are truly NEW! Walk like it… think like it… be like it!

  

Who Am I - I Am the Image of God

 

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (Genesis 1:26–31 ESV).

 

Today we begin a new series of devotionals. They each will describe a characteristic of who we are as believers. For our first look at these descriptions in Scripture, I’ve chosen the beginning of our story. After God had created all things, He turns to the apex of creation: Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image’” (v. 1). There have been countless debates as to the meaning of this phrasing in the description of “man.” John Calvin wrote:

 

Interpreters do not agree concerning the meaning of these words. The greater part, and nearly all, conceive that the word image is to be distinguished from likeness. And the common distinction is, that image exists in the substance, likeness in the accidents of anything. They who would define the subject briefly, say that in the image are contained those endowments which God has conferred on human nature at large, while they expound likeness to mean gratuitous gifts. But Augustine, beyond all others, speculates with excessive refinement, for the purpose of fabricating a Trinity in man.

 

It is this “Trinity in man” that I want to focus on today. First, let me be quick to write this does not indicate deity. We are not made “Father/Son/Holy Spirit.” We are not God. However, the image that Augustine, and later Calvin along with other reformed theologians refer deal with the triune nature of man. We are flesh (body), mind (emotions and intellect), and spirit (soul). Jesus references this when He was asked what the greatest commandment was. He said, “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” (Matthew 22:37 ESV).

 

This has more significance than space allows here for an adequate explanation. However, let me simply say that when we fail to recognize that we are created in this trinitarian fashion, we dare not neglect any of them. Most often we see the spiritual part of our humanity neglected. We make a great effort to take care to educate and fill our minds, as well as go to incredible lengths to preserve as much of a healthy body as possible. These things are indeed essential, but no to the neglect of the spiritual.

 

What are you really doing to care for and protect your spiritual part? How do you really spend your time in caring for the whole man of which you were created? Take care. Each is essential! That is, after all the beginning of understanding who we are.

 

God, Our Mighty Fortress

 

To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah (Psalm 46:1–7 ESV).

 

It has been said that confession is good for the soul. Perhaps today’s devotional will do so for me. There are many memories that have long been forgotten from my childhood; however, one continues to stick. We were living above our family meat market/grocery store in Galveston, Texas. I was always a fan of western themed television shows. It seemed like an exciting life as they rode and camped in the old west righting wrongs and protecting the weak and helpless. So, one day I decided to play “cowboy.” I was merely eight years old at the time, though that’s certainly old enough to know better than to do what I did. I pushed the couch and some chairs around enough to make a tent by throwing a blanket over the tops an leaving room underneath the blanket in a makeshift tent. I had my trusty Daisy BB gun for protection for the wiles of the outdoors and the only thing missing was a warm campfire. That’s where I went off the rails. I found a metal trash can, it was small enough, yet safe enough in my mind to build the fire in. Not having any wood to burn I though the daily newspaper would do. Crumpling the paper up in the trash can and lighting it afire it began to smoke… a lot! It wasn’t long before my dad came running in the room having smelled the smoke from beneath in the store. That turned out to be a painful learning experience on the pros and cons of building a campfire inside the house!

 

When I was asked “why?” I would do such a dangerous thing, I simply said that I was trying to camp out like the Lone Ranger and Tonto did. Well, that didn’t help. It is a bit funny how we try to build forts today. We use financial security, homes, relationships with loved ones, and many other things to produce a sense of security. However, God offers us even more effective security and safety from the storms of life when pain flashes through our hearts and crises rattle us to the bone. Like a great comforter and yet stronger than a mighty fortress, our God invites us to take shelter in him and to be protected by his love, which is gentle and yet stronger than any force or calamity that may threaten.

 

Build your relationship with Him and He will never fail you!