Your hands have made me, Lord.
You are the Potter and I am the clay.
Help me find myself in You as I seek to know You more each day.
Focus of the Month: Growing Our Faith
What color are you? What do your eyes say about you? What is your super power? What is your greatest weakness? How nice are you? …on and on… Social media is full of identity quizzes, tests, and analysis. We see the results of our friends’ tests, and sometimes decide to have a little fun by clicking on those links ourselves. But how accurate are these quick quizzes? Do they really provide any insight, direction, or truth about ourselves? I don’t think it’s a far stretch to say, “Maybe…but probably not.”
So why are social media outlets flooded with these links, and why do we get sucked into taking these silly, short quizzes? Clearly, some are starving to know themselves. Others want to feel validated in behaviors and choices. Some may be so confused that they truly are seeking answers and direction. The social media quizzes prove to be a fun outlet for personality or identity games. However, they are never going to provide the answers and direction we seek, desire, and ultimately require for us to really know who we are, why we do the things we do, and what our true purpose is.
In Luke, chapter 4:17-19, Jesus didn’t go to social outlets or take a poll of His pals to discover His identity and purpose. No, He turned to the scriptures and found where it was written about Himself.
“And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.'”
Jesus found Himself in the scriptures. He discovered His identity and His purpose through the written Word. And when He spoke out these truths, He believed what was written was truly about Himself.
We should do likewise. After all, God is the Potter, and we are the clay. He fashions us, molds us, forms us into what we are to be. The created must find their identity and purpose within the confines of the Creator. In other words, for us to know and understand ourselves more, we must know and understand our Creator more. We cannot know who we are apart from knowing who God is. 2 Timothy 2:15 says,
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”
We must study the scriptures so we can present ourselves approved and handle the word of truth accurately. There is no way to build a solid foundation of faith apart from studying the word of God. It is through such study we learn the character of God, discover His truth, obtain the understanding of our identity in Christ, and acquire the ability to lay hold of His precious promises through faith and hope in Him.
Be encouraged to study the scriptures. Learn who God is, and thereby discover who you are. Believe what you read in the word of God. Find yourself in the scriptures. Go to the place where “It is written” about you! Know God formed you and fashioned you in His very image! Seek to know Him more today!
Holding Fast to Hope,
Maryann
Scripture References: 2 Peter 1:20; Isaiah 29:16, 45:9, 64:8; Psalm 119; Genesis 1:27; Matthew 6:33
