Who Do You Say That I Am

I remember a time at Illinois District teen camp, when we were as close to heaven as one could be without being there. The atmosphere was amazing, and the Holy Spirit was moving, lives were being changed, and it was a night many will never forget. Then I remember the meeting we as counselors had. How do we help our youth when they leave this safe zone and return to the real world full of their real world issues? It's easier when we are primarily surrounded by God's people, but soon we would all have to leave camp and return to everyday routines.

Similarly in our church we have been ultimately blessed by the moving of the Holy Spirit. We have been blessed with miracles, healings, and the witness of Jesus in the lives and the life changing of many; but then the real world returns. For me it was too soon and as I sat in my office reading the Word, I ran across a verse where Jesus changed me once again.

Jesus has just healed many, fed the five thousand, and is now hearing the beleaguering chit-chat of many wondering just who He really is. Jesus asks His disciples,(in a lead in situation), who people say He is. They give Him several answers and then in Luke 9:20, Jesus looks at Peter and asks, "who do you say that I am?"

In my time of revelling from my real life issues, it was as if Jesus was looking at me and asking me -- Wayne -- who do you say that I am? I realized at that moment how easy it is when surrounded by God's glory to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah, but at this point it was as if Jesus was asking me if I still gave Him that glory. It was very similar to one of the many times Jesus would ask those He helped, "where is your faith?" I felt Jesus reminding me that the Messiah and Savior of my life I had been basking in the glory of these past few weeks, is and still will be the same Messiah and Savior of my life in those times of real life issues if I only continue to proclaim it. What mighty power did I feel in those words now! "Who do you -- Wayne -- say that I am?"
"You are the Christ of God, the Messiah, my Lord and Savior -- and with you I can do all things", is my reply.

So in your real world days filled with issues if Jesus were to ask you,"who do you say that I am?" How would you respond? Remember Hebrews 13:8 says: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So who do you say that He is?

Blessings,

Pastor Wayne