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but who do you say that I am? |Quotes #8|



Yesterday I learnt such a valuable lesson. That made me re-question,


Who is God to me personally? Is He some genie who I ask of whenever I need something? Or is God something more?



As Jesus once asked His disciples who they thought He is, in Matthew 16:15,

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

Growing up, God to me was someone who I prayed to whenever I needed something. I would quote scripture when it was convenient for me. God needed to follow my needs and agenda. Or so I thought. Yet, yesterday we explored the deep deep world of Habakkuk. Now Habakkuk lived in a time when the nation of Israel was in a depraved state of morality.

 

Habakkuk was saddened by the rampant injustice and violence occurring around him, and he was puzzled by God’s toleration of it.


In his questioning of God, the prophet asks, “Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds” (Habakkuk 1:3).


Clearly, Habakkuk was not afraid to ask the Lord questions, which shows that the prophet had a strong relationship with Him. Habakkuk’s questions of why God would allow suffering and let evilness go unpunished are answered; the Lord declares He would bring judgment on the people through the Babylonians (verse 6).


God’s choice to use Babylon puzzled Habakkuk even more, and he again questioned God: how could God use such a violent, idolatrous group of people to carry out a righteous judgment (Habakkuk 1:12–13, 16)? God answered Habakkuk by assuring him of the judgment the Babylonians themselves would face at a later time (Habakkuk 2:8, 16).

 

In Habakkuk's case, he questioned why God would use Babylon (Israel's sworn enemy) to carry out judgment. Unknowingly Habakkuk like each one of us are inclined to "box" and pre-determine who God is and how He should act.


And it's true. Growing up back then and until now, I realize of my many expectations from God. I think to myself that if I go to Church weekly and serve/help out in God's work, I would find "favor" from God. That He will lookout for me. That my life would be blessed. Healthy. Abounding wealth in business. Having a spouse and children. Or even that others will come to believe in Jesus Christ.


And yet, what if doing all that and being a Christian does not yield that? What if all I do will result me in being old, poor, sickly, leading only to a life of suffering? This fear is not new. As Habakkuk faced this, the Lord by His great omniscient encouraged Habakkuk to think bigger. To see His great design through it all. He reminded Habakkuk,

"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing work in your days that you would not believe if told. Habakkuk 1:5 👑🌍

Sometimes we see a God-limited. A God who we think does not care for us. Yet are we sure about that? Isn't God actually doing more in the background than it seems?


Whenever I feel anxious, I am reminded of this picture of a small and feeble sparrow. Who would look after it? Yet God sees and minds for this lowly sparrow. That they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet our heavenly Father feeds them. Are we not any more value than they?


Sometimes we forget of the intricacies of our Lord. How He knows everything (omniscient), He is everywhere (omnipresent) and He is almighty (omnipotent) in any situation. He even knows every number of our hair. And by faith, we know that our God will care for us as He did for the sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31). We simply have to place our trust in Him.


As Habakkuk wrestled with God. So should we introspect our own deepest fears and anxieties. Have we brought it all in prayer? Have we searched His Word and come to Jesus daily? Are we following Jesus only caring about what we gain?


Lately, I realize that shouldn't be the case. We follow Christ not for anything else, but because about who HE IS.

Remember that Jesus led a hard life full of suffering. Yet also a life where He rejoiced in the Father's Will. Jesus bore it all on the Cross to grant us eternal life for whoever believes in Him. A life where we don't have to perish. All because of the Father's great love. Jesus looked forward to that future and hope where all history would coalesce into and for God's glory.

Interestingly, before Jesus' time, Habakkuk concludes just that,

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17-18 ❌🌲🕊️

The use of metaphor is just sublime. As Habakkuk expressed the cost of following the LORD is not at all easy but worth it. Even if nothing in Habakkuk's life yielded no fruit (blessing), no herd (money), the flock be cut off (despised by society), be no herd in the stalls (no family/allies), Habakkuk decided to still choose to rejoice in the LORD. To take joy in the LORD who has rescued him. The LORD who has given Habakkuk salvation.


Habakkuk knows that even if the LORD does not give what he wanted, God is still God. He LORD is sovereign. Supreme. Omnipotent. He does whatever He pleases. Our choice in the matter is our attitude. Do we make a conscious decision to submit to our LORD?

 

I have decided to follow Jesus

Lastly, I would like to end how this devotional was inspired by Rev. Frans Lie who I heard the other day. I loved how he included this song to re-enforce this sermon. He sang the song "I have decided to follow Jesus" (click this link to sing along!)

The song is based on John 12:26, to which Jesus said,

If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will be my servant also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

So why did the writer make the song? Well, the story goes like this:


"

About 150 years ago, there was a great revival in Wales. As a result of this, many missionaries came to north-east India to spread the Gospel. The region known as Assam was comprised of hundreds of tribes who were primitive and aggressive head-hunters

Into these hostile and aggressive communities, came a group of missionaries from the American Baptist Missions spreading the message of love, peace and hope in Jesus Christ. Naturally, they were not welcomed. One missionary succeeded in converting a man, his wife, and two children. This man’s faith proved contagious and many villagers began to accept Christianity.


Angry, the village chief summoned all the villagers. He then called the family who had first converted to renounce their faith in public or face execution. Moved by the Holy Spirit, the man said:

"I have decided to follow Jesus."


Enraged at the refusal of the man, the chief ordered his archers to arrow down the two children. As both boys lay twitching on the floor, the chief asked, “Will you deny your faith? You have lost both your children. You will lose your wife too.”


But the man replied:


"Though no one joins me, still I will follow."

The chief was beside himself with fury and ordered his wife to be arrowed down. In a moment she joined her two children in death. Now he asked for the last time, “I will give you one more opportunity to deny your faith and live.” In the face of death the man said the final memorable lines:

"The cross before me, the world behind me. No turning back."

He was shot dead like the rest of his family. But with their deaths, a miracle took place. The chief who had ordered the killings was moved by the faith of the man. He wondered, “Why should this man, his wife and two children die for a Man who lived in a far-away land on another continent some 2,000 years ago? There must be some remarkable power behind the family’s faith, and I too want to taste that faith.”


In a spontaneous confession of faith, he declared, “I too belong to Jesus Christ!”

When the crowd heard this from the mouth of their chief, the whole village accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

The song is based on the last words of Nokseng, a man from Garo tribe of Assam (now Meghalaya and some in Assam), India. It is today the song of the Garo people.

"

 

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for reminding me of my commitment way back then. Lord Jesus, You once asked, "but who do you say that I am?"


I used to say,

That You are a loving God and did whatever I asked. A God who loved me so much that it's ok for me to sin. Sort of like my personal genie. A God that would give my life ease and wealth. And yet the Lord, thank You for reminding me from the first commandment:

"You shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3 🚫🛐

All my life I have created a false image of a god inside my mind. Because the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and more importantly our LORD of Jesus Christ isn't like my deluded perception.


I now say,

You are LORD. Creator of Heaven and earth. My Lord and Savior. Sovereign and Righteous. Holy and Just. And more than that, You are my Father Redeemer, my Advocate and Friend...


Lord, I ask to recommit my life once more in my covenant to follow Jesus. Sometimes just like Habakkuk I forget and struggle. Yet thank You reminding me of Your sovereignty. Help me to be like Jesus in trusting the Father's work and time.



-And even if my life yields to nothing, help me to present to You my best-




Please accept my small little offering for You. To hear all that You whispered and proclaim it on the housetops. To bring to light Your amazing gospel. And please Lord make it whole. Please use this short and passing life of mine for Your glory. So that You may be even more glorious...

And Lord, thank You for living out the perfect life in which I emulate. Thank You for reminding me today that I have decided to follow Jesus despite the costs.

God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places.
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. Habakkuk 3:19 ✊👑

As Habakkuk concludes by relying on You to be His strength, let me take joy in You O Lord. To declare of Your great great love. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise...

To You be the highest glory alone🎺. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 

If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."

Daniel 3:17-18

 

Updated on: February 27, 2023 | March 28, 2023


Credits: 📷Marsha Reid | 📷fred A



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