LET JESUS BE JESUS (So you can be you)
I was feeling a tad sassy when the high school reunion invite arrived.
“Come join us," it said, "Fill out the enclosed form and tell us who you are."
I wrote:
"Nikki (Bliss) White, Chief of Staff at the White House"
It was true in a way.
I was a stay-at-home mom who lived in a house whose last name happened to be "White".
Imagine my surprise when a former classmate sought me out to congratulate me on my political achievements.
I had a choice. Confirm or deny?
I could let this person assume that I was someone I wasn't.
Or admit who I wasn't so I could embrace who I was.
I chose truth.
"My life is one big peanut butter and jelly sandwich, messy but filling," I confessed and went on to enjoy the rest of the night unashamed.
The same thing happened to John the Baptist.
The Jews sent a delegation to ask John who he was because they had their own suspicions.
John the Baptist had no problem denying the allegations.
John 1:20 tells us that John the Baptist freely confessed the truth about himself, "I am NOT the Christ."
Confessing who he was NOT, paved the way to admit who God had called him to be.
"…I am the voice of one calling in the desert, Make straight the way for the Lord." (John 1:23)
John the Baptist wasn't Jesus, but still had a special calling on his life. John's real job was to point people to Jesus.
Sometimes, you might find yourself in a similar spot.
You call yourself a Christian, so people expect you to be Christ.
But "Son of God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, Redeemer of Mankind" is a job that's been permanently filled by Jesus Christ Who "fills everything in every way." (Ephesians 1:23)
Christ is worthy, but you're a little weary of trying to keep up.
It's true. You aren't perfect. You don't have all the answers. You can't save yourself, let alone the whole world.
So stop trying to be who you're not and be exactly who God created you to be.
You're not the Christ, but you still have an important job to do.
Love Jesus with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.
Then take that love into the highways and byways, the grocery aisles and check-out lines. Let the love of Christ shine through you and your unique (and sometimes a little kooky) ways and watch what God does.
Let Jesus be Jesus.
You be you.
Get real; go live your life, and prepare the way for the Lord.