I Am

This title, to me, is one of the most powerful statements ever, I AM. It is something that just embodies what it means to be. It is a stronghold on things that says you can. If you ever have doubt or even in just moments of reflection, I’m sure we have all had moments of doubt, being anxious or afraid. But this statement of I AM goes beyond just a motivational pep talk.

Over the weekend, one of my favorite pastors, Todd Clark, spoke about the fruits of the Spirit.

“22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.” ~ Galatians 5:22-23

And while this is typically thought to be the Christian ‘checklist’. This is a list that we will never be able to check off by ourselves. In all actuality is not a list at all, but rather the result of having Christ in our lives. Todd makes a great point with his message by saying, “The Christian life isn’t difficult. Rather it is impossible, without Christ in you and the Holy Spirit empowering you.”

Now to some of you, that statement may be a bit of a harsh reality check. But like I mentioned earlier, and even Todd said it within his sermon. That the Fruits of the Spirit is not a checklist that we need to just check off like a grade book, or to do list. But instead, the Fruits of the Spirit result from our life when we have Christ in us.

I know for myself I could go down that entire list of qualities/traits and say, “I wish I could be better in those areas of my life.” And that’s the point! I wish I could be more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. However, the most powerful part of the message was this. And why it is the title of this entry. I AM. Christ says he is! He IS the I AM.

Todd used the story of the burning bush and Moses. And when Moses was speaking to the bush that God was using to speak God said, “...tell them The Lord, whose name is ‘I Am’ sent you.” ~ Exodus 3:14

I AM, is such a powerful message. It encompasses all things. There is not a single thing that God isn’t because he IS. The fruits of the spirit with Christ in your life result from Him being all the things you are not. And like mentioned earlier, there is not a single one of the fruits that we all wish we couldn’t be more of. We are because he is the I AM.

In our life, I feel like we tend to think of this statement as an identity. I am something; fill in the blank here. But more times than not, our identity is something we get so wrapped up in because it’s where our treasures lie. Our treasures do not complete the checklist, nor do they make us a better person. The Fruits of the Spirit show us that these are the qualities God is striving to see us pursue in our life when we put Him in the middle of it. No identity, no I am, wrapped up in treasures or accomplishments. He wants to help you fulfill a life of greatness because for all the moments we are not loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled, Christ can remind you that he IS. He is the I AM. He will fill those times when you are not and make you realize that He needs to be the center of your life.

Thought and Prayer:

Christ reminds us that He IS! Which should remind us that we are too. In a worship song by Hillsong Worship, “I am who you say I am,” is a reminder that Christ is the only one that can make us the I AM. He is the I AM, and when he is in our life, we are too I AM. My prayer this week for you is that you find ways and stillness to listen to what God is doing in your life. Listen for those moments of I AM.