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Assured By I Am
The first three Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, are called the “Synoptic Gospels” because, unlike John, they give a synopsis of the life of Christ. The word “synopsis” is derived from two Greek words meaning “a view together,” and “a collective view.” So these three Gospels may be viewed together.
But John’s gospel stands in a class by itself. It is uniquely tabulated and formulated and has a different perspective for us, largely because John himself is completely different. He traces the authenticity of Jesus not from the fleshly lineage of his earthly genealogy like the other writers did, but he began his account from the divinity of Jesus; he goes to the Ruach Elohim — The breath of God, The creator of the universe. John 1–3
In the process of delivering this document of authenticity, unveiling the origin of Christ, he unveils his own journey. This man was in the inner circle of Jesus; he laid his chest at Jesus’s Chest, he was at Gethsemane with him, he was the one that identified Jesus at the shore after resurrection, and he seemed to know Jesus in a way that none of the other disciples could recognize or understand him. John described himself as the one who Jesus loves, none of the gospel writers described him this way. What a claim! He looked at himself one day and said, “I am the disciple whom Jesus loves.” Such a profound way to know yourself. “Hello everyone, I am MD Olaniyi, the One whom Jesus loves, who are you?”
Whoosh! He understood something about the love of God. I am the recipient of God’s constant beam of love, light shines on me even in the darkest hour of the night. God’s love is not erratic, it is always constant. What a Joy. I am the one whom Jesus loves! The Christology John brings to us is amazing. John knew Him as the I AM Moses saw in the burning Bush. He declares over and over the I Ams of Jesus; I Am the Bread of Life, I Am the Light of the world, I Am the Resurrection and the Life, I Am the Good Shepherd, I Am the Door of the sheep, I Am the True Vine, I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
The confidence that he has reminds me of a well-loved child. When a child is well loved, there is a confidence that child has, he can walk into a room and fill the room with his presence. He is sure of himself because he has received a good dose of love from ABBA.
When you are not sure of yourself and what you have received, you begin to compare yourself with others. We live in a world that is full of comparisons and competitions; who is the GOAT in this field? Endless arguments of A is better than B. Folks trying to compare and compete with the next person, it leads to frustration, a feeling of unworthiness, often envious, often jealous, wavering and shifting, and often unsure because you don’t know who you are.
Let me tell you, you are the one whom Jesus loves. If you don’t know who you are and what your role is, you are only good until when someone else comes who is prettier than you, who is smarter than you. You loved the job until that younger chap was employed, and you got intimidated, you became aggravated. When you are aggravated, you frustrate the environment, and the environment begins to fight you. You only desired that degree only when you saw the other person’s update on Instagram. Peter and James clearly showed up everywhere with Jesus, but John didn’t try to compare himself with either of them. Peter Preached a storm on the day of Pentecost, John still didn’t compare himself and say, “Why am I not the one preaching?” Peter walked on water, John was comfortable in the boat, He knew Jesus would come into the boat and meet him where he was, Wow! What an assurance. He was comfortable with Peter, James, Andrew and the rest in their gifting and callings. When you know your role, you are not afraid of being around other great people because you are not constantly tormented by their greatness. Stop asking, “Do I have what you have?” The answer is No, You don’t! “Did they put more rice in your plate than they did on mine?” Maybe Yes.
The role God has given to you is commensurate to the gift he has placed on the inside of you.
John starts out by talking about who Jesus is, when you have a revelation of God, you will know who you are. God is the script writer, He gave you your lines, and the only thing you have to do is to play your role. Stop trying to play out someone else’s line that was not in your script. A support character trying to play the role of a lead character and vice versa will mess the entire production up. Say to yourself, I am whom the I AM loves.
If you could bring yourself to think like this, the torment will be over, you don't need a devil to be miserable, satan wouldn’t waste a demon on you, that would be a waste of hellish resources. He knows if you can keep comparing yourself with others, you will self-mutilate, doubt yourself and forfeit what He has given to you. Don’t blame the devil, he is not responsible.
Peace comes in knowing who you are. The chicken is happy to be a chicken with his short little wings that can fly about 4 feet and a fat body. They don’t need therapy, they don’t have emotional disorders; instead, they are always in demand from Japan to Australia to motherland Nigeria. You had chicken this past weekend, right?
The chicken is not like the eagle. The eagle’s wings have a 9-foot span from tip to tip; he is able to spread his wings as if he is a God made jet, he flies faster than any bird, and his eyesight is so keen that he can see Miles away in the storm or in the dark. They are happy to be eagles. They can fly, but they are not tasty. As magnificent in strength as the eagle is, he doesn’t have the incredible beauty of the peacock, why? They are created to play different roles!
Know your abilities and understand your limitations. John the beloved introduced John the Baptist at the beginning of his writing. Theologians agree that John the beloved was the disciple of John the Baptist. The beloved left the Baptist after the Later’s announcement of Jesus (John 1:35–37). John was ready to lose some things that weren’t captured in His role and assignment though precious and desirable. Be willing to let go of things that aren’t a part of your role in the script ordained of you, even though they are desirable and precious.
John the Baptist understood his role.
It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me… — John 1.27
Listen, there will always be one that comes after you that is prettier, cuter, smarter, better outspoken, better with people, and “mightier” than you are. You are not marked based on their pedigree, you are marked based on how well you played your own role.
Jesus gave an eulogy of John the Baptist.
Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women, there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist… — Matthew 11.11
He didn’t ‘perform’ one single miracle; he was excellent at preparing the way, he was the voice, and he was loud enough for all to hear. He was comfortable with someone mightier than he, yet, when the results came, he was marked greatest of the prophets, he simply played his role, dropped the mic and walked away. You have missed great moments of joy because you weren’t happy fulfilling your role. God didn’t promise He would give us the same things, he is not going to demand of the gifts he didn’t give you. The only thing he will demand of you is you play your role and be confident and excited in it. Get better at being who God has created you to be because you are the one who God loves. Play your role and Walk into the Joy of your calling.
Let’s pray;
Heavenly Father, we ask for your mercy this day, we have compared ourselves with others and never appreciated the wonders you have placed in us today. We repent and ask that from this day forward, we receive your love, use us the way you want to use us, and we will say this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.
Amen.
Do have a super joyous and excellent week playing your role and winning everyday!
Michael D.Olaniyi
@mdolaniyi
Push Buttons is a weekly devotional of The Powerpoint Tribe
