Who are you?

Scripture – John 1:19-23: Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.” They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ “

Observation – “Who are you?” It’s far easier to tell people who I am not. “I am not the Christ” I am not Billy Graham. I am not Martin Luther King, Jr. I am not the leader of a mega-church. I am not a television personality. I am not… That kind of response is really a way of putting myself down. The leaders asked John, “Who are you?” He answered not with a name, but with a prophetic image and mission. How would I answer that today? What Biblical image would describe my mission – the unique ministry Christ has for me?

Application – I will live with my uniqueness today. I will not try to be someone else. I will be the person God has called me to be – the person I am becoming.

Prayer – Lord, thank you for your trust in me. Forgive me when I try to discount my role in your work. Give me clarity in my mission and call. Give me courage and boldness to be the unique, authentic person you are forming even now.