I have a few quirks.
Oddities, proclivities, and predispositions that make me unique; that most people don’t even know.
For instance, my favorite dessert as a child was chocolate ice cream with crumbled plain potato chips on top. The mix of salty and sweet was pure delicious! I also used to eat bread and mustard sandwiches- (yes, you heard that right- just plain white bread with yellow mustard.) My third toe on each foot is smaller than the others, and I'm allergic to some crazy things like aspirin and salt water, and I’ve suffered from Hunan Hand and Pine Nut Syndrome. (Bizarre!)
Furthermore, I have an extreme fear of heights. Although, I tried to conquer that fear back in the early 90’s when I braved an extended ride on an F-16 Fighter Jet; a once-in-a-lifetime experience that was pure excitement, astonishment, and terror!
A tiny glimpse of the real me.
Quirks and all.
Here’s the question- don’t we all want to be known and accepted regardless of our faults, shortcomings, and quirkiness?
Isn’t that real authenticity in a relationship?
Frederick Buechner once said,
“You use your real voice with those you love, and you cannot be phony with those who know you well.”
So true!
How about our relationship with God - do we really know Jesus?
Here’s what Jesus had to say about himself- His Seven “I Am” Statements:
I am the bread of life.
Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” ~John 6:35
I am the light of the world.
“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
I am the gate.
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.” ~John 10:9
I am the good shepherd.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” ~John 10:11
I am the resurrection and the life.
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” ~John 11:25-26
I am the way, the truth, and the life.
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” ~John 14:6
I am the true vine.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” ~John 15:5
So, if this is Jesus and I’m in a relationship with Him what does He have to say about me?
(Thankfully, He overlooks all my oddities!)
Jesus looks at me and says:
I am His child, a child of light. (1 Thessalonians 5:5)
I am holy. (Colossians 3:12)
I am born again, a new creation in Christ. (1 Peter 1:23)
I am forgiven. (1 John 2:12)
I am loved. (1 John 4:10)
I am a champion. (Romans 8:37)
I am Christ’s ambassador. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
I am blameless. (Colossians 1:22)
I am royalty. (Romans 8:16)
I am chosen. (Colossians 3:12)
I am saved. (2 Timothy 1:9)
I am complete. (Colossians 2:10)
I am free. (Ephesians 3:12)
Here's the thing…. Jesus wants our heart, He wants to know us, He wants us to know Him, and He wants an intimate relationship.
Jesus wants us to use our real voices and to remove all the phoniness and to see Him and ourselves in truth.
So, the real question is - do you want to know and be known by the God of all creation?
Do you want Him to call you by name and delight in all your uniqueness?
Nothing would give Him more pleasure than to have a real relationship with you!
Father, thank you for your goodness and for wanting to be in a real relationship with us, so much so, that you sent your only Son to this Earth to be a revelation of yourself. May we seek an authentic relationship with Jesus and know and be known by the Creator of all creation.
“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.” ~Matthew 25:11-12