When I Say I Am A Christian

Please visit Carol Zimmer's website for more information regarding the following poem. This, though, is the crux of the Christian faith, isn't it? In order to be healed, we first need to acknowledge our need for healing. In order to be saved, we first need to humble ourselves and submit our life to him. In order to be free and find our true life, we first need to lose our self-centred life. (Matthew 10:39)

In losing, we find,
In humility, we are freed,
In acknowledging our need, we find hope.
This poem reminds me of the famous beatitudes in Jesus' sermon on the mount (Matthew 5:3-12), which indicate this contrast remarkably.

3 “The poor in spirit are blessed,
for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
4 Those who mourn are blessed,
for they will be comforted.
5 The gentle are blessed,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed,
for they will be filled.
7 The merciful are blessed,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 The pure in heart are blessed,
for they will see God.
9 The peacemakers are blessed,
for they will be called sons of God.
10 Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed,
for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

11 “You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. 12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.


The truth is that when we live life God's way... when we become lesser and he becomes greater; our everything, we become who we truly, always were made to be. We become free. We can live forever loved. We can live knowing that he always knows what is best for us and will lead us and guide us like he's promised to do. And like the verses above promise, we will be blessed. In embracing God's way: the way of contriteness, humility, gentleness, righteousness, mercy, purity and peacefulness, we are blessed. In becoming more like him, we embrace who he always made us to be: an eternally loved, very good creation, made in his image (Genesis 1:27).

The truth is, that apart from God, we cannot know who we truly are. We were made by him and we were made to be loved by him. Aside from him, how can we know who we are? Who we feel we are doesn't make us who we are. Who others tell us we are doesn't make us who we are. We are not our sicknesses. We are not our failures. We are not our successes. We are not our thoughts, feelings, self-affirmations or self-condemnations.

We are, if only we will accept it, forever his.
Posted 27 December 2020

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