Monday Morning Devotion-January 13, 2020

The Real You

"How do you know me?"  Nathaniel asked.  Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree."   John 1:48

     Here's an idea.  How about this?  In 2020 why not set out to discover the real you? 

How does that hit you?  Thought provoking?  Dumb idea?  How do I do it?  Why would I do it?

Are you crazy?

            Any of those could be your initial response to my suggestion.  It could be that you are comfortable with yourself.  Perhaps, you don't want to make any changes.  Maybe you are saying: "Leave me alone, Jim."  OK I get it.  You probably feel like you have better things to do.  I can't blame you because we do live in a busy world.

            Here's what triggered my idea.  In 2020 I am starting my 15th year of doing these devotions.  Each year I search for a different book to stimulate my thinking and generate helpful ideas for these weekly devotions.  Additionally, I may expand on ideas gleaned from different books (not necessarily religious ones), sermons, life experiences, even sports events, movies or maybe songs. Sometimes I just wake up and a devotional idea pops into my mind.  Guess who plants those there to sprout?

            The idea for "real-you-ness" as a topic to consider came from my latest daily devotional book: Charles Stanley's "Jesus, Our Perfect Hope."  This wonderful little book, published in 2016, daily addresses the hope we have in Jesus.  It dawned on me that to be more certain that I am doing the right things with my life I need to learn more about the plan that Jesus has for me.  He didn't come as a baby born in a manger, become a real person, a carpenter no less, work miracles in people's lives, suffer persecution, die on the cross for our sins, come back to prove that death was conquered and thru Him we can have eternal life, without a plan.  Wow, that is a powerful lot of stuff to think about.  That plan Jesus had involves you and me. 

            By not seeking out that Jesus Plan for your life you could knock it off track.  If you didn't hold up your end of the bargain things probably wouldn't work out for your "ultimate best." i.e. the best life you could have.  You could still have a life, perhaps even a good one.  But, it wouldn't be the "ultimate" ---that is the very best life

            Yet, if you didn't hold up your end of the bargain that wouldn't defeat His Master Plan.  He is Omnipotent.  He is Omniscient and Omnipresent.  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning." (Jeremiah 29:11)

            Taking all that into consideration doesn't it make sense that Jesus knows the real you and that He knows the best you---the one you can be?  He knows the one you are most of the time and how near or far from the real you, you are currently°the one He had in mind for you from the start.

            "For I know the plans I have for you," declared the Lord.  "Plans to prosper you, not to harm you.  Plans to give you hope and a future."  I repeat that verse, (Jeremiah 29:11)  several times each day because it is a wonderful promise.  It is a promise we all want to hold God to and we know He honors His promises.

            So, my attempt to understand and stay in touch with the "real me" is based on getting to know Jesus better in 2020.  I like the part about giving us "hope."  That's why I love this Charles Stanley book.  At the end of each daily devotion there is a statement, set off in a box that explains why our hope in Jesus is important.  The one that went along with today's devotion said:     My hope is in Jesus because He knows me fully and loves me completely.

            Let me share a few other "hope messages" because these are good;

            My hope is in Jesus because He sets me free with His truth.

            My hope is in Jesus because He is God, and He loves me.

            My hope is in Jesus because He leads me to bear fruit that lasts in eternity.

And here's one I really like a lot:

            My hope is in Jesus because He is making the dreams He has given me into reality.

            Stanley wrote (January 5): "Jesus sees you---the real you.  If you've ever felt that people don't truly understand who you are or what's in your heart, then know for certain there's One who does.

            This may be surprising to you.  It certainly was to Nathanael.  John 1:47 reports Jesus saw Nathanael and said, 'Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit.'  This was astounding to Nathanael because Jesus saw him under the fig tree.  We are never told what Nathanael was doing there, but apparently, he was having a holy moment---one only observed by heaven.  We know this because of Nathanael's response: 'You are the Son of God' (v. 49).

Nathanael recognized that Jesus saw his inmost being---his heart laid bare.

            Jesus sees your inmost being as well.  Regardless of how others treat you, you never have to feel unloved, unrecognized, or even invisible because your Savior sees you---your past, present, and future.  Jesus knows your hopes, thoughts, fears, struggles and wounds.

            And He loves you deeply. So, trust that you matter to Him and that He leads you in the best way forward."

            So, there!  Seeking out the "real you" in 2020 is not such a crazy idea after all.  It will lead you closer to Jesus.

Prayer: Lord help us to learn more about you in 2020 so we can see ourselves in the way you see and lead us.   Amen!