"But who do you say that I am?"

Food for thought, before I pen my own thoughts:

"Beloved, remember what you have heard of your Lord Jesus, and what He has done for you.

Let your memory treasure up everything about Christ which you have ever felt, or known, or believed, and then let your fond affections hold Him fast for evermore.

Love the person of your Lord! Bring forth the alabaster box of your heart, even though it be broken, and let all the precious ointment of your affection come streaming on His pierced feet."

Charles Spurgeon, speaking on Luke 2:19

"Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, 'Who do people say that the Son of Man is?' And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' He said to them, 

'But who do you say that I am?' 

Simon Peter replied, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'"

Matthew 16:13-15

Yesterday was a hard day.  I'm struggling with the pull of the world and my calling to Christ.  It's hard for me to resist temptation and throw myself on Jesus, and sometimes it's hard for me to be convinced of the love He has for me.  In God's sovereignty, both of these passages showed up in my quiet time and absolutely floored me.

I first read Spurgeon's words (taken from the Spurgeon Morning and Evening Devotional) and it got me thinking.  I don't often ponder on what I know of Christ, and use that to increase my affections of Him.  It made me want to think about who He is to me, and then thank Him for it.  Then, a little while later, I picked up my reading in Matthew (I'm currently working my way through the Gospels) and I read this passage from Matthew 16.  My heart actually skipped a beat when I read, "But who do you say that I am?"  I continued reading, and I was so taken by the question that Jesus Himself asked, and the call of Spurgeon.  

So, I decided to make a list of who Jesus is specifically to me; who I say He is.  Of course, I know that's not exactly the direction He was taking His question with Peter; in context, He was calling attention to the fact that His Father had revealed Jesus' true identity to their hearts, so that they might confess that He is the Christ.  However, to me, His question said, "But who do you, CeCe, say that I am? Who am I to you?  What about Me causes you to turn your affection towards me?  What have I done for you that has caused your heart to believe in Me?"  Well, this is my answer, and by no means is it all inclusive.

My Rest, my Hiding Place, my Peace. 

I get so overwhelmed, and He quietly reminds me to run to Him and take up a hiding place in Him as he restores my soul and refreshes me.  He brings me total peace when I feel like I'm grasping for answers.

The One who convicts me.

He never lets me get away with feeling justified in my sin.  This is one of the absolute greatest gifts He has given me, and reminds me of His promise to carry me into completion.

My Forgiver.

He is constant, and He is always accepting me into His arms as I throw myself on His mercy.

The Sovereign One.

I falter, but His plan is always the best way.   His love is never ending, and His purposes will always be fulfilled, no matter how I stray, and no matter how much the world seems to be against me.

My Best Friend.

He is the last person I talk to at the end of the day, and He hears about all of the craziness of this life and gets everything I've been holding onto dumped into His lap as I process my day.

My Shoulder to Cry On

Countless tears and cries from deep within my heart have been poured out to Him in His presence.

My Faithful One.

Faithful in reminding me of His presence, faithful in reminding me of my need of Him, faithful in providing my needs day by day, faithful in reminding me of His promises, faithful in carrying me through times of doubt and faithlessness.

My Hope.

He never fails to continue teaching me that nothing in this life could ever satisfy, yet He doesn't leave me feeling empty and needy.  He fills me with the hope of a day when I will be totally and utterly filled by Him, when I will cling to Him, and when I will worship Him the way He created me to.

My Everything in Between.

He meets me exactly where I am in every facet of life to bless me, teach me, heal me, satisfy me.  The littlest of details are accounted for and divinely orchestrated by Him.

My Daddy.

Who hasn't run to their daddy when they have nowhere else to run?  When my weaknesses become too much for me to handle, He takes care of it.  He takes care of me.  He goes before me and behind me to ensure that I am protected and provided for.  He is always there for my encouragement, my defense, my every need, and even my discipline. 

Lastly, I aim to thank Him for being all of these things (and more).  I am deeply thankful for the whole person of Christ, and His desire and ability to be intentional with being intimate with His people.  Without Him, I would be nothing, and I would live with a heart that is constantly broken and irreparable.  Lord, thank You for being wholly what I need.  I pray that my affections would be poured out before you, in light of all You have done for me.  I love you, Jesus.  Thank You.