I have often heard people talk about the God of the Bible – how we know who he is by what he does.
We see the many times that God provided for his people – the ram for Abraham’s sacrifice, in the desert when Israel was wandering, his instruction to Israel to provide for the widow and orphan – and we know God is our Provider.
We see the many times that God healed people – in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New – and we know God is our Healer, our Physician.
We see the times when God judged those who had done wrong – Saul’s sacrifice rather than obedience, Ananias and Sapphira lying to the Holy Spirit, the Egyptians not letting God’s people go – and we know God is our Judge.
There are so many more dimensions to God’s character and his relationship with us, but my question goes in a little different direction. If we know who God is by what he does, then shouldn’t the world around us know who we are by what we do and how we relate to them?
So, who are we?
Are we sectarian because the world sees us as exclusive and unaccepting of others? Or are we humanitarian because we show others that we value the differences in God’s wonderful creation of people?
Are we lazy because the world hears us as preaching loudly but not practicing what we preach? Or are we role models because we show others that we keep our word and do what we tell others to?
Are we legalists because the world see us as having plenty of rules but no love? Or are we life-changers because we show the world that we love them and that love can change them?
Who are we?
Just thinking,
Dee
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Good questions. And if we want to be the people of God that we so often pretend to be, we must ask them of ourselves often. I do believe we, as a whole, do not realize what we show a lost and dieing world.
The pride and arrogance of “church folk” never ceases to amaze me. I have always watched people and probably always will, and from my observations, some quite recently and close, it is no wonder that what we have is not wanted by all.
We will not lose because our King is destined to win. But at what cost?
We do need to ask ourselves who we are. But we need to also work to find the answer.
Love you all Sonny(Quote)
I once heard that our DO comes from our WHO.
Jesus told us to “judge a tree by the fruit it bears”. I believe the whole idea of know-be-do, and the idea of critically analyzing our actions is not only good, but it is Biblical.
I believe that what (or who) we know informs who we are, and who we are dictates what we do.
So, for me a good way of self evaluation is to reverse the know-be-do model into a do-be-know self evaluation method.
In other words I evaluate my actions which are born from my identity, and if they don’t match up with the Kingdom then maybe I am not really intimately knowing the King. Jason D.(Quote)
I have to say we just got home from church, where we missed the sermon because we were in the kitchen getting things together for the fellowship to follow…..by the time we made it back into church the service was practically over.
We have had a very difficult week….I was out of town on business and while I was gone Marcus found out his salary had been cut in half. So he had to be here alone to deal with that….so when I do get home we felt so disconnected….so I needed that sermon today, and instead I left church hungry. I said all of that to say that when we walked through the door I found the laptop open to this blog.
I sat down and read Dee’s words and felt myself coming awake. I find myself taking advantage of what kind of role Sunday plays in my life….it is really a time designated for self observation. As our life has been playing out, Sundays are always our day for rest and God. Life has a way of being so busy….and sometimes when we are so “busy” we forget what and who we are living for….I know that I fall victom. However, in the state of our nation and economy I find myself struggling to remain conscious that my actions and decisions may effect the chain of reactions that follow me. My attitude and approach to life could be the only sight of God that a lost soul may have…..
When Dee was here at Christmas she and I sat down and spoke. I shared with her that I felt God calling me to DO something…..I wondered why this “somthing” was so unclear…..I think after this past week and reading this entry, I know that if I can just remember who I am, by following the basics, God will lead me where he needs me.
Love you Guys,
Laura Z. Laura Z.(Quote)
Sonny,
What an important comment — we do need to work to find the answer to who we are. And, we need to be honest with the answer to that question, and more importantly, we need to work to make the answer to that question one which reflects God’s love.
Jason,
I like that — “our Do comes from our WHO.” You just summarized my entire post in just a few catchy words!!! Thanks.
Dee Dee Mimbs(Quote)
Laura,
Thank you for your heart-felt comments. Shannon and I will be praying for you and Marcus — both for your jobs and for you to find the place that God has for you to serve his people. I really believe that God has something for each of us to do and that we never experience a full and complete life until we are able to use our gifts and talents for his glory.
I miss you and love you and so much enjoyed spending time with you over the holidays. Please come see us soon,
Dee Dee Mimbs(Quote)
I will start by saying Thanks!
As I reflect on myself, I honestly do not like who I see lately.
It is so funny, we do not know ourselves or see ourselves the way others see us. If we could be open to the constructive criticism brought by those who love us, we would recongize the path that leads to who we should become.
Laura’s statement made me realize that we have an opportunity to show the world something. We are having the same struggles as non believers, will we handle it any different that the world?
I like Jason’s last statement…
In other words I evaluate my actions which are born from my identity, and if they don’t match up with the Kingdom then maybe I am not really intimately knowing the King.
I want to intimately know the King. To do so, I need to look inward to see how much of Him is reflective in me. I am asking God to help me to not be one of those people mentioned by Sonny. I want to represent the kingdom and show the world that I have something they do not. More than that, I want to present it in such a way as to promote a craving in others to have what I have!!!
Love, peace & joy!! Tammy(Quote)
Tammy,
Thanks so much for your honest and open comments — I agree. We need to examine ourselves often, and if our actions do not reflect the Jesus of the Bible, then there is probably something wrong. We are the sum total of our decisions, and someone continually makes decisions that are not Christ-honoring, then that person cannot be Christ-honoring.
One of the best ways to keep oneself focused on our goal of ministering to others and winning souls to Christ is to examine our actions.
Dee Dee Mimbs(Quote)