"Who Do You Say That I Am?"

We live in a world that has decided who God is. HE's been reduced to mere humanity. No longer is HE just, no longer is HE sovereign and no longer is HE perfect. HE is filled with flaws. The world has stripped the living God from everything that makes HIM exactly who HE is. Unfortunately, even Christians today look at who the world says God is and easily point fingers and condemn. Sadly, I have been, and at times still am, one of them. (I do not admit that with pride. It is with deep conviction.) I, too, have reduced God to who I wanted HIM to be. And that also makes HIM flawed.

In Matthew 16:13 Jesus asked HIS disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they responded with what they had heard. The world has given its own definition of who they think God is, as well. But it's HIS next question to the disciples in verse 15 that stirs me, "But who do you say that I am?" Now Jesus gets personal. I believe it was the main question that HE was really asking. The very ones that were following HIM were the ones who needed to be convinced of who HE really was. If they didn't know for sure, then how could they tell others? 
     
We get angry when the world's definition of who God is doesn't line up with HIS word. But what about when we, as Christians, have made up our own ideas of who God is? We tend to expect the world's definition of God to be spot on and yet feel pretty good about our own. Do we really believe HE is just? Do we really believe HE is sovereign? Do we really believe HE is perfect? The right answer would be to say "yes". But, is it always the truth?
     
It's a personal question God is asking me, too. "Regardless of who the world says that I am, and regardless of who other Christians say that I am, what matters the most right now, Vonda, is who do you say that I am?"  That really struck home. Before I point and condemn others, I need to take a long hard look at myself. Right smack in the middle of adversity who do I say and truly believe God is? When it feels like my world is falling apart, who do I say and truly believe God is?

If I am not convinced that HE is just, sovereign, perfect and 100% flawless then how can I tell others?  

In awe of HIM,
Vonda 

“Unbind him and let him go!”

John 11:1-44

Mary and Martha had sent word to Jesus that their brother Lazarus, His dear friend, was sick. Instead of stopping, what He was doing and going straight to his side, Jesus waited two more days. By the time He had gotten there, Lazarus had been dead four days. Four whole days! Jesus was too late to heal him. However, it was not going to stop Jesus from showing them God’s glory, even if they did believe He had been too late. 

Placed at the entrance of the tomb, was a large stone. However, it was not going to deter Jesus! With a loud voice He said, “Take away the stone.” Martha spoke up and reminded Him that Lazarus had been dead four days. There would be an odor and it would be horrible! Aww, but Jesus had a plan. With His eyes lifted toward heaven He prayed aloud. After all, it was for their benefit that he did so. Then loudly Jesus called him by name and said, “Lazarus, come out.” And that’s exactly what he did…he came out! (John 11:43-44) The one, who had died four days earlier, now completely alive, came out of the tomb. I wonder if anyone fainted at the site of a man who had been dead now coming forth for all to see. I can only imagine.

Lazarus’ body had been prepared for burial after he had died. His hands and feet were bound with linen strips (NLT says ‘grave clothes’) and his face was wrapped with a cloth. As he stood in front of everyone, fully alive, Jesus said, “Unbind him, and let him go.” With those words spoken, Lazarus was free from what had him bound in the tomb. It had let him go. No longer was he dead; no longer was he bound. He was free.

That speaks volumes to my soul. Jesus spoke to the very thing that had Lazarus bound, the very thing that kept him from being free. (Did you get that?)That gives me goosebumps. Lazarus, being alive again and yet still bound, would never have experienced complete freedom. After all, how beneficial would life be if it were being lived in bondage? Jesus, with His infinite power and wisdom, knew it. To live free, the thing that had him bound was the exact same thing that had to let him go. After all, His plan had been to set Lazarus completely free and not to be confined.

There were four directives given by Jesus:

1)    take away the stone - remove the obstacle

2)    come out - do not stay in

3)    unbind him – release what is holding

4)    let him go - experience freedom

Jesus still does that for us today. He removes the obstacles that keep us in and He speaks to the very things that have us bound. It is so we can personally experience freedom. 

“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

In awe of Him,

Vonda

 ** Just a thought **

Have you ever wondered who, or what, “them” were? Was it the people close by who Jesus said to unbind Lazarus and let him go? Or was it actually the grave clothes? Just who or what were “them”…

 Am I the only one who has ever pondered that? Nonetheless, either scenario works! After all, we are talking about Jesus. Things happen when He speaks!