Sunday 29 June 2014

Who do you think I am?

In Matthew Chapter 16 verse 13 onwards we read that Jesus asked His disciples "Who do you say I am?"

Peter answered quite rightly, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God".

I now ask you "Who do you think you are?"

I am not asking you for your name, the name of your parents, or your family lineage. I am not asking you whether you are male or female, single, married, divorced, separated or in partnership with anyone. Whether you are a parent or uncle, aunt or whatever. I am not even asking you whether you are a doctor, nurse, lawyer, carpenter or whatever your job may be; if you have one.

I am asking you "Who do you think you are?"

Do you really know yourself? To know oneself deeply and fully we should consider "what makes us tick". What is it that makes us who we are, or what we have become as we grew up, or are still growing up.

We are all the product of our background, environment, parentage, up-bringing and a variety of other factors that make us what we are now. But have we ever taken the time to consider how these factors have affected us and made us what we are today?

Take for instance our opinions on any subject. Our views. Our prejudices (for we all have them no matter what we lead others to believe). Our fears real or imagined. Are these all of our own making or are they pre-set opinions or views we have heard or learnt from others and adapted them to suit our own beliefs and requirements?

How many of our views and opinions are indeed logically assessed and formulated by us as opposed to following someone else's views?

Let's go back to the Scripture quoted above. If Jesus challenged us and asked "Who do you say I am?" What would our honest, no hesitation, response be?

And if He asked "Who do you think you are?" What would our answer be?

Whatever our opinion of ourselves may be, or whatever or whoever we think we are. One think is for sure. We are all the Creations of God. Indeed we are the sons and daughters of God.

Why else would we call Him Father when we recite the Lord's prayer?

15 comments:

  1. I have added your blog to the list of those I read, Victor. Always looking for stimulation and inspiration from others. By the way---at 65--still trying to figure out who I am---but beyond a doubt --I am a child of The Most High King!

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    1. There you are Lulu. A daughter of the Most High - our God, our Father.

      Thank you so much for joining this Blog. I hope you like the humorous posts as well as the more serious ones. Help yourself to my FREE E Books - click tab at top left.

      God bless you.

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  2. Hi Victor! That's a good question to ask. Who am I? I often get stuck answering this one, because I think the question is so deep and close to the soul it's hard to describe. But I like Lulu's answer, short and sweet. I am a Child of the High King. Amen!
    Sunday Blessings,
    Ceil

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    1. Good point Ceil. We are all children of the Most High King. The thing is, we tend to forget it all too often.

      Then there are those who don't believe in Him anyway. Sad isn't it?

      God bless you and yours, Ceil.

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  3. An excellent post Friend!
    In answer to your question...I like to think that one day He will help me to figure it out!
    God bless,

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    1. That's so right Noelle. When we get to meet Him He will explain to us who we really are and how loved we have been.

      God bless you and your family.

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  4. That is the central question of all four Gospels: Who do you think I am? I think it's only Matthew that articulates it and has it answered. Actually now that I think of it, Pontius Pilate asks Jesus who he is too. Is that in John's Gospel? Not sure.

    Who am I? Among several things, but assuredly a follower of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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    1. Hi Manny,

      In Matthew 27:11 Pilate asks Jesus "Are you the King of the Jews?"
      Same in Mark 15:2-5. and in Luke 23:3-5. and John 18:33 and 18:37.

      As for us; what exactly makes us what we are? What we believe? Our views and opinions? As you rightly say: we are followers of Christ.

      God bless you and yours.

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  5. Victor #1, forgive me for changing the subject but I'm going to ask you a question that a third Catholic Priest at our new church asked us twice during this last month which is, and of course, I will be paraphrasing and that Question is: What would we, "I" mean he do if we were forced to deni GOD and/or lose your life?

    I hear YA! Answer my question first?

    Hey, I'm getting tired of people literally telling me to be myself! When I was a teen, they use to say, "Be yourself"! When I went to a Retreat with a bunch of Religious Catholic which included some non Catholics, they would say, "Just be yourself" and this happened so often that I just get UP SET when I even hear "IT" coming from The Great Mannytoo, "I" mean Manny too.

    http://ashesfromburntroses.blogspot.ca/2014/06/personal-essay-on-writing-on-literature.html#comment-form

    The Answer is "I AM WHO I AM" and that's good enough for "ME", "ME" and "ME" until GOD (Good Old Dad) tells US (usual sinners) otherwise, so let' "IT" BEE! OK? :(

    I hear YA! GEE SORRY I ASKED VICTOR! LOL :)

    God Bless

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    1. I am not saying be yourself. I am asking "Do you know yourself"?

      God bless you.

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    2. SORRY!

      I hear YA! Sure you are? :)

      God Bless you and yours also

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  6. What a thought provoking question. Thank you for asking, Victor. Who am I? I'm still figuring that out. I think the most important thing is that I am my Beloved's. I am a cherished, honored daughter of the king, clothed in His righteousness. I am loved. And that means I can love others.

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    1. It's great to see you visiting here again Sarah. I hope you and yours are keeping well.

      You're so right. We are beloved by our Father in Heaven. As to whom we are. We can figure this out with His help in prayer.

      God bless you all.

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  7. That's the answer most people miss, Colleen. We pray day after day "Our Father who are in Heaven"; yet we do not realise we are the children of God, our Creator.

    God bless.

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God bless you.