It's I am,...Not, I do.

Good Morning!! We often define ourselves by what we do,...in other words, I am what I accomplish. (I'm a writer, accountant, or teacher.) The frustrating thing about accomplishments is that they never stay accomplished for long. I was once the outstanding I.B.E.W. Electrician,...I'm not anymore. I used to work for one of the biggest retailers in the country,...I don't anymore. I used to work with kids, at my church,...I don't anymore. The truth is that no accomplishment provides us with lasting meaning and purpose.  And yet, many of us place our self-worth and identity in what we do. The danger of this personal definition is that when our accomplishments pass away (and they will) we are in danger of losing sight of who we really are.

Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?". God said to Moses, "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I am has sent me to you.'"—Exodus 3:13 (NIV)
Did you notice that the name God chose to define Himself didn't have anything to do with His accomplishments? God had accomplished some amazing things, and He could have said something like this: Tell them that the Almighty Creator, the All-Powerful God who created the universe, spoke the land and the sea into existence, created man from dust and woman from a rib has sent you. Instead, God chose to define Himself like this: I am. We should learn from God and choose to also define ourselves by who we are, not what we do. And we are dearly beloved children of God; valued because of Who loves us,...and chose us to be His. Remember that truth when you doubt your worth because your circumstances change, you loose a job or you find the 10 pounds you lost last year.

Do you know how you are?,...without what you do?

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Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us in spite of what we do, or don't do. We praise You, that You are the great "I am." Please help us to grasp Your deep love for us,...and allow the truth of who we are to transform our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.

"The contents in our hearts, and the things that go in them, are more important than any outer packaging."