Writer Virginia Mudd once reflected, “Who am I? What makes me tick? Why do I have trouble with certain situations or people?”
Her predecessor, Charles de Gaulle, similarly articulated this reflection: “We may go to the moon but that’s not very far. The greatest distance we have yet to cover still lies within us.”
Such poignant and probing reflections! Who am I? What has God created me for? These are questions that often perplex me when I begin the journey of looking inward.
Consider a startling scene at the Jordan River:
“At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:9-11)
The noteworthy point is that Jesus was a “nobody” at that time—a poor carpenter’s son, unknown to most, with no significant college degree, employment, or major accomplishment.
After Jesus was baptized, God acknowledged him: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
God clearly identified Jesus as the son He loves and finds well pleasing, despite the fact that Jesus was a “nobody” from an earthly perspective. What a remarkable affirmation!
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)
If I can accept that God offers the same affirmation to me once I become His child, the implication is rather earth-shattering! It means that my self-worth is no longer tied to an earthly accomplishment. Instead, I am loved by and pleasing to the God who created heaven and earth, and trying to win the approval of men matters far less.
Reflection Questions:
- Are you proud of your choice to become a child of God?
- Are you proud of the choices you have made since becoming a child of God?
Written by Phillip Lowe. Artwork by Jasmine Chan