WHO ARE YOU AND WHY ARE YOU HERE? (JONAH 1:8 NLT). In the book of Jonah the crew asked Jonah four pointed questions to answer them and identify himself to them. He was also to inform them about the reason why he happened to be in the same boat with them. Today imagine that you are asked to answer to these demanding questions and identify yourself to your friends here: “Who are you? What is your line of work? Why are you here? What are you doing here?” (Jonah 1:8 NLT). WHO ARE YOU? WHY ARE YOU HERE? WHAT DO YOU DO? AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? DO YOU DO A DIFFERENT JOB HERE WITH THE TITLES THAT BEAR YOUR NAME? ARE WE HERE TO CARVE OR MAKE A NAME FOR OURSELVES ON CHRIST JESUS? ARE YOU HERE TO PUBLICIZE AND BROADCAST YOURSELF INSTEAD OF THE ONE WHO HAVE CALLED YOU, THE CHRIST? WHAT ARE YOU HERE FOR? WE ARE IN THE WORLD BUT THE ONE WE HAVE BEQUEATHED TITLES FROM HIM INSTRUCTS THAT WE DO NOT CONFORM TO ITS (THE WORLD’S) STANDARD. John Mason has said, “God has a job for you to do that no one else can do as well as you can. Out of billions of applicants, you’re the most qualified. It’s time to get our eyes off of others and onto God. People will always detour you, but God will always keep you on track. To become the person God intended you to be, use what God has given you. Follow your unique plan. Resist imitation and live the unlimited life God has for you!” Remember, Peter wanted to conceal himself from the hostile crowd but his ascent gave him up. Does what we do here give us up in reflection with the huge titles we have bequeathed to ourselves. Or, do we do a different kind of job than what portrays our identity as the individuals we claim to be? In the book of Matthew, Peter’s hostile experience with the crowd even brought praise and glory to Jesus. “Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. ‘I don’t even know the man,’ he said. A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, ‘You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.’ Peter swore, ‘A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!’ And immediately the rooster crowed (Mt. 26:72-74 NLT). Our Beloved Brother, Paul does not mince words at all with what he did as a servant and an apostle of God. Subsequently, he informs us what we should also do like he did. “For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me” (1 Cor. 9:16-17 NIV). Again, Paul informs and gives reasons why he was not ashamed but preached the undiluted gospel of Christ with such tremendous power. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith’” (Rm. 1:16-17 NIV). Remember what Caleb told Moses in the book of Numbers when the overwhelming majority reported differently in the negative. It was not very convenient and appropriate for Joshua and Caleb to give the contrarily, positive report that they gave. There were indeed giants that did occupy the land. The land did not naturally look the description God had given them. Notwithstanding, Caleb looked beyond all the obvious obstacles to God who is more than able... and said: “But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. ‘Let’s go at once to take the land,’ he said. ‘We can certainly conquer it!’” (Num. 13:30 NLT). With all these confidence that come to us from God, we boldly proclaim through Christ thus: “We can do all this through him who gives me strength.” And at another time it says: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts” (Ph. 4:11-13; Zech. 4:6b NLT). MAY THE LORD GOD HELP US AND QUICKEN US TO DO HIS WILL ALWAYS! AMEN. Rev. Kwame Ankoma-Amoa.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 05:03:57 +0000
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