I was recently watching the movie, “God’s not Dead 2”. The first movie, “God’s not dead” centered on a student who was forced to defend and prove his point that God exists, after his professor wanted the whole class to admit God does not exists. Where the second movie, is about a teacher who was defending her decision to discuss Jesus in the class room. The teacher was discussing great leaders and what made them great, when a student posed the question of Jesus being a great leader.
Well as I’m sure you can guess, this caused a great stir in the student’s family. The family and the school sued to fire the teacher for preaching her religious beliefs in the public schools.
As this teacher and her lawyer prepared for her trail, the lawyer asked how she came to be a Christian. Her response had something to do with a church sign that read “Who do you say I AM?” The question moved her enough to seek more and establish her faith.
So now, I ask you. “Who do you say I AM?”
Many of us, start our journey with Christ as a child. We are introduced by way of the family. We tend to follow our parents and their traditions that were set forth by their parents, grandparents and so on.
As we age, we start to decide how important the church and our walk with Christ is in our lives. Many like myself, walk away but then return for one reason or another.
This question in the movie really has been weighing on my mind. “Who do you say I AM?”
When I was young I followed traditions. I was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church. Later in life, I left the church. Not God, I just didn’t have time for church, I wanted to sleep in. Another excuse, was when I married my husband, he was not a church goer nor did he believe in God. So I just attended church, when I felt like it. Sometimes that would be just Christmas and Easter.
Then my children were born. I truly believed from understanding of my teachings, that my children had to be baptized; if not, they would not got to heaven should they die. So my son was baptized Catholic. My daughter was baptized Lutheran.
During this time, my husband was starting to ask questions about God. People were placed in life at just the right time. My husband was adamant at the time to not be Catholic, so we started church “shopping”. We experienced many different churches. We came upon a Lutheran church my husband really liked. The pastor had a sermon that just made him sit up and take notice.
So begins our Lutheran walk together with Christ. So when I hear the question, “Who do you say I AM?” I have one response. God is for me, within me and loves me, no matter what I may have or have not done. I am forgiven because Jesus died for me. I will have a spot in heaven, in my father’s house.
Okay, to be honest, I still worry about stuff. I don’t always give it to God like I should. However I will say that as I grow older and seek to learn more, God has never let me down. If I look back over my life, God was always present, I chose to ignore his presence.
God was there in my family, my friends, people I met along the road. God was present in my animals, the plants, and the air I breathe.
Is my life easier because of this? No. In fact sometimes, I feel like it’s harder. Maybe the stronger my bond with Christ, the harder Satin attacks.
So I ask you to think about the same question? “Who do you say I AM?”
The Bible ask this question too.
Matthew 16:15-16The Voice (VOICE)
Jesus: 15 and you? Who do you say that I am?
Peter: 16 you are the Anointed One. You are the Son of the living God.