I am
Carol’s post “What part of God’s Story are you?” is a perfect launchpad for my post. I love how God does that – totally independently He brings things together. I started following Jesus during the Jesus movement of the 70’s when I prayed the sinner’s prayer in the back of Christian Bookstore. God has been ever faithful through the years. I have not. I continue to learn that God is who He says He is.
In Exodus 3, Moses asked God who He was and God answered:
“I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.” Exodus 3:14
Fast forward to God fulfilling His plan for redeeming mankind. Jesus states seven I ams that are recorded in the book of John. (emphasis is mine)
“Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 NIV
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world.Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 NIV
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.” John 10:9 NIV
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” John 10:11
” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 NIV
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 NIV
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NIV
And because of God’s plans (creation, redemption) and those “I am” statements I can say “I am a child of God.”
As we ponder our part and service in God’s story may we remember Amy Carmichael word’s in His thoughts said…His Father said…
48 SOME CROPS MUST BE HANDPICKED
His thoughts said, When I hear of wonderful things done elsewhere I am glad, and yet with the gladness is unsettlement of mind. There is a strange allure in all I here. There are days when I fly from he place where I am to the place where souls are flocking to Thee. There is a wavering in me which I do not understand.
His Father said, This wavering is a temptation. Many have known it. Thy times are in My hand. Thy time to-day is in My hand. Would I waste My servant’s time? remember thy Lord’s hour by the well. He who sent thee is with thee. Not all fields are reaped with the sickle. Some crops must be hand-picked.
It is good to know that God is always with us, and that His promises to Moses are still true for us today.
Amen.
And that is a vindication to those of us who have time to nurture and mentor one warrior for God as opposed to reaching a thousand. Sometimes at this stage, I feel limited.
Each stage has its blessings and limitations. Time as we measure it is what limits us but God doesn’t measure time as we do. Thankfully he isn’t bound by it.
Wonderful post! I am so glad that He calls me His own.
Amen.
When we think of the masses to whom we would tell God’s Story it can be paralyzing. Yet when we tell just one, God can multiply it beyond what we can ask or think. That “one” to be handpicked we find right in our path. We simply must speak. God will do the rest. Thank you Ann.
I love that idea of handpicked. As you said that one we find right in our path. God is so good to us to allow us to be part of His plans.