MA Winter

Two Questions
Pete Lake

 

Who am I?

Why am I here?

 

Answering these questions is a day-by-day, year-by-year process.  Why? Because God’s not finished working in me.  (He’s at work in you … in every soul, isn’t He?) There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. (Philippians 1:6)

The Spirit is on the move in you and in me.  We can make a difference by being kind and giving of ourselves for the betterment of others. In reality, the more I die to my ego, the more God opens my eyes to see the needs of others.

Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.”  This is the most important, the first on any list.  But there is a second to set alongside it: “Love others as you love yourself.” These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them. (Matthew 22:37-40)

Saying I love God and I love my neighbor is one thing.  But my words must be backed up with action.  I mean, how can I claim to know God if I’m not being kind and merciful toward others?  My dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever.  But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us – perfect love! (1 John 4:11-12)

Now for those two questions:

  1. Who am I? I am one who is loved by Jesus Christ.  How do I know this?  The Bible tells me so.  I am also loved by others: my wife, my three sons and their mates, and my six grandkids.  I am loved by my extended family, too.  And I’m loved by my neighbors and friends in the church and in the community.

  2. Why am I here? I’m here to make a positive difference in others’ lives so that Jesus will be lifted up, be seen, and become known as the Spirit gives the opportunity to share his love.

But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women.  It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don’t take yourself too seriously – take God seriously. (Micah 6:8)

I remember when Judith and I and our three little boys went to visit with Elisabeth Elliot at her home near Manchester-by-the-Sea in Massachusetts.  The year was 1982 and I was close to graduating from college with a degree in elementary education.  I didn’t know what God had in store for me, so I asked Elisabeth for some guidance. She said, “Peter, do the next thing.”  I didn’t understand what she meant so I asked her for some clarification.  She asked, “Well, what are you going to do when you leave here for home?” I replied, “I guess I’ll go home and give Judith a hand making dinner.  Then it’ll be bath time for the boys.” She said, “Well, that’s your next thing.”

Simply, that was and is God’s plan for me: to do the next good, right and kind thing.

Jesus didn’t rescue me, and then leave me to figure things out for myself.  On the contrary, He walks with me every step of the way.  His word assures me: I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you. (Hebrews 13:5b.)

He is forever faithful and kind.  I know I  need to lean into Him more – to rest in him.  I’ve found that when I do, peace comes to my soul – the kind of peace that passes all human understanding.

It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (Philippians 4:7b)

Note: All Scripture quotes are taken from The Message, by Eugene Peterson.

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