As Ezra began to make progress on rebuilding the Temple, the Governor of the people of the land confronted him and the Israelites. “what gives you the right to re-build this temple? Who do you think you are?” He asked.
We all have some important questions to answer in life. Will you marry me? Will you accept this job offer? Will you move to this city? What will you name this child? Is this the time to retire? Will you take the chemotherapy? Life’s most important questions are different for everyone, except for one. It’s the one that has to do with who you think you are. It’s the most important question in life. I want to have the courage and the confidence to answer it the way the Israelites answered the Governor. Verse 11 says, “And this was their reply… ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth.’
For you and I, to answer the question regarding who we think we are requires we answer another question first. In Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus asked his disciples this question. “Who do you think I am?” If you were to ask people today who they thought Jesus was you’d get lots of different answers. He’s a good man. He’s a good teacher. He was a great prophet. Some might even say that he’s a fictional character. But for you and I it doesn’t’ matter what others say. That’s why Jesus was so pointed with his question. “Who do YOU think I am?” Our identity is determined by how we answer that question. Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Peter then refers to himself as a “servant of Jesus Christ and God the Father” as do the other apostles.
We must set aside whatever else preoccupies our thoughts in this world for a moment and give this question our undivided attention. We can’t listen to our music, watch TV, do our homework, or do anything else when we answer. John tells us, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” And Paul tells the Galatians, “You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus …There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Who do you think you are?
Chuck
“But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.” Jude 20-21 (NLT)