Daily Light - March 18, 2011

Daily Light from the Lighthouse

"But who do you say that I am?"

Mark 8:29

Have you ever been in a situation where it seemed that your opinion didn't really matter? It did not matter how much you shared your input or thoughts no one listened. That can be a very discouraging feeling. Jesus had asked the disciples who the multitudes thought He was. After all, the disciples were used to mingling among the crowds and hearing the opinions of individuals. They had heard it all: John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the revered prophets. When they told this to Jesus, He then made it much more personal. "Who do you say that I am? What every one else thinks is all well and good, but I want to hear your opinion."

Still today God speaks to our hearts in a personal manner and wants to know who He is to us. William Faye in his great series entitled "Share Jesus without Fear" encourages believers to ask friends, co-workers, family members and even stranger a very similar question: "Who is Jesus to you?" The answer to that question reveals much about the relationship that individual has with God. Some see Him as the one they talk about at church, the one who died on the cross, or even God's Son. Those are all correct answers in some way, but notice the personal element that is missing. The identity of Christ seems very vague and hard to understand. A follower of Christ will say much more than that. You will hear things such as "my Savior", "the Lord of my life" or "the One who gave His life for me". When Jesus asked the disciples this question, Peter powerfully answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God".

Jesus wants you to know Him in a deeply and personal way. He from the Garden of Eden has shown His desire to have a relationship with man, even though man has turned from Him at every opportunity. That is why 2,000 years ago He came to this earth to with a cloak of humanity upon His divinity to pay the penalty for sin. Sin had separated man from God and outside of His grace there was no relationship or fellowship. Therefore, Jesus became the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world. He allows us to call Him our friend, but that is only because we can call Him Lord. Jesus is the promised fulfillment of hope and life, the Messiah, and the Christ. How personal is your relationship with Him?

May you draw closer to the Lord today!