"Who Do YOU Say That I Am?"

"Who Do YOU Say That I Am?"  -  Jesus

On any given day in the past I have struggled with that question in my Heart...  Since I was just a very little boy, I have been taught to know and accept that GOD IS, that Jesus Is, that the Holy Spirit Is....  It is as real and plain as the nose on my face, HE IS...  Settled, no argument, no debate, done - no question...

However; because of that, and the fact that I was only ten when I first went to the alter; I don't know that my Heart ever caught up with the academics that GOD IS...  For the last several weeks I have been listening to XM #460, the "Billy Graham" channel on satellite radio.  By his own admission he is not an eloquent orator, but his voice and message appeal to the country boy in me...  He brings the milk of the Gospel in every message, while drizzling fruit and even meat throughout the messages to masterfully hold captive the saved saints in his audience.

He on several occasions posed the very question from the pages of Matthew - "Who Do YOU Say That I AM?" which is just as valid today as it was 2000+ years ago.  It is deeper than the face value of the question...  We would all answer "you are the Christ Lord, the very Son of GOD"...  But who does our Faith, Trust and Lives reflect that HE truly is?  I am guilty of the SIN of complacency, guilty of the SIN of self-reliance, guilty of the SIN of pride "I can do it myself"...  Oh I have learned to be thankful for the Blessings - but at times even that is methodical and mechanically verbal.  I am guilty of hurting or grieving HIS Precious Holy Spirit.  Now multiply my actions by 10's,  100's,  1000's,  10,000's and eventually to millions of believers and you have Churches missing the mark all over this country and the world.

GOD  IS  -  whether we believe it & live it out - or NOT...  The earth itself will cry out HIS praises if we do NOT...   HE IS...   I must call into obedience, submission and the repentant yielding of my Heart and my self-reliant ways to HIS ALMIGHTY and Sovereign Authority in my life.  Jesus said, if you love your Mother, Father, Wife, Husband, Sister or Brother more than me, you are NOT worthy of the gift of salvation...  He wants our Love, Commitment, Dedication, and Devotion to HIM First - He paid for that compliance with HIS precious BLOOD !!!   He suffered persecution, cussed at, spit upon, bludgeoned, beatings, ripped flesh, thorns deep into HIS head, nails thru HIS hands and feet and a spear blade thru HIS side...  Innocent of any and all accusations made against HIM...   HE WAS HOLY & PURE - He took MY Place on that Old Rugged Cross...   I am guilty - for as Billy Graham spoke from the Bible - if you even have told only one little lie in your life - you are guilty of breaking all the commandments - guilty of breaking all the law - punishable by ETERNAL  DEATH...

Therefore, I must go back to the Cross and Remember...  I must kneel at that Cross and Repent (turn from my self-reliance *pride* and give it over to HIM and rely on HIM) and ask for HIS forgiveness for trampling HIS work under foot...  If HE is my KING; then HE must be Lord of ALL.  All my decisions, all my desires, all my efforts must be with HIM in mind.  Serving and Praising HIM alone, giving HIM the Glory for all things in my Life...   ALL THINGS He works for the GOOD and His purposes...

Thank You Father for every breath, for the Home we have, the Jobs we have to keep that home, the vehicles we have to get us to work, the food on our table and the health you have provided.  Thank You Father for our Friends & Family walking with YOU, and please chasten those that are not, so that the reunion in Glory will be complete and whole for our Family...  Make me a beacon, a reflection of YOUR LIGHT to draw those to YOU that are placed on my path.  Let them see YOU ONLY Father - I pray, Lord God, Humble my Heart, and bow my knee at any sign of independence.  Search my Heart oh GOD, see if there be any wicked way in me - cleanse me from all unrighteousness Dear Lord I pray - In Christ I raise these petitions to YOU Father GOD - Amen...