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“By the grace of God, I am what I am.” (1 Corinthians 15:10)
“Don't be afraid, because I have saved you. I have called you by name, and you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” (Isaiah 43:1-2)
Demi Moore, an American actress and film producer, said, "What scares me is that I'm going to ultimately find out at the end of my life that I'm really not lovable, that I'm not worthy of being loved. That there's something fundamentally wrong with me...and that I wasn't wanted here in the first place.” Why does a wealthy and beautiful actress confess feelings so insecure or desperate?
Many of us have had the exact same feelings of insecurity or desperation at some point in our lives. Why do we feel insecure? Because our life goal is driven by these three claims: “I am what I have done; I am what others say about me; and I am what I have. When three things disappear, we disappear too.” (Henri Nouwen, The Life of the Beloved)
We are not what we do. By refusing to turn stones into bread, Jesus did not fall for the religious lies of “I am what I do.” We are not what we have. By refusing to bow down and worship Satan and get all the possessions of the world, Jesus did not fall for the religious lies of “I am what I have.” We are not what others think of us. By refusing to jump down from the highest point of the temple and win people’s approval, Jesus did not fall for the religious lies of “I am what people say about me.”
Then, who am I? “The greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity, or power, but self-rejection. When we have come to believe in the voices that call us worthless and unlovable, then success, popularity, and power are easily perceived as attractive solutions. The real trap is self-rejection.” (Henri Nouwen)
I am beloved by God! This is a short, powerful, simple yet life-transforming message that bears repeating because of its timeless and evergreen quality. We all need to be reminded that we are the beloved sons and daughters of God over and over again.
Pastor Seok-Hwan
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