Who does Jesus want to be to you today?

On Friday I sat in a coffee shop and began to write about who Jesus is, that is, a list of the things that I know to be true.  It went a little like this:

Jesus is the Almighty One – Rev 1:8

Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega – Rev 22:13

Jesus is our Advocate – 1 John 2:1

Jesus has all authority – Matt 28:18

Jesus is the Bread of Life – John 6:35

Jesus is the Beloved Son of God – Matt 3:17

Jesus is the Bridegroom – Matt 9:15

Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone – Psalm 118:22

Jesus is our Deliverer – 1 Thess 1:10

It continued until I had over 50 things I know to be true about Jesus. 

Now, as I wrote this list I realised that there are a lot of things that I know from an intellectual perspective but have not experienced yet in my life or just don’t have much revelation on yet.  It was at this moment that I felt God ask me to ask Jesus which of these he wants to give me greater revelation on right now. 

I would love to say that this led to an amazing encounter with Jesus as he took me deeper, wider and higher into an aspect of who he is.  However, the truth is I closed down my Macbook and waited for the friend I was having coffee with and pretty much forgot my conversation with God.

Fast forward to this morning (it is Sunday) and we have Dawna Da Silva speaking at church.  She starts to talk about the names of God and instantly God reminds me of our conversation on Friday.  Are you listening he says?  Yes!  I am most definitely listening as he has been teaching me about the importance of taking note when he speaks the same (or similar) things more than once.  I know there is something of significance here for me and I do not want to miss it.

Dawna talks about God as Jehovah Tsidkenu (the Lord my Righteousness), Jehovah Jireh (the Lord will Provide), Jehovah Sabaoth (the Lord of Hosts), Jehovah Shalom (the Lord our Peace) and El Roi (the God who sees me) and how we can use these names as mighty weapons when we are facing difficulties in life. 

I knew that God was highlighting himself as Jehovah Jireh to me as I have been concerned over my finances recently and that he also was reminding me that he is Jehovah Rapha (the Lord who Heals) too.

As I focus on Jehovah Jireh and how great he is my concerns over my finances can only diminish and shrink in size, they are as nothing beside my God.  It does not mean that my circumstances change but that I remind myself of the one who is able to change them. This allows me to let go of concern and take hold of faith.  Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we cannot see.  He is good, he is faithful and true and he has promised that he will work all things together for my good.  I know however that this, though important for me, is not what God has for me today, there is something of greater importance yet.

As I focused on Jehovah Rapha he again reminded me of the list I wrote on Friday and that on that list was:

Jesus is the Healer – Matt 14:14

This is it!  This is who Jesus wants to be to me right now.  This is what God wants to bring me greater revelation on.  This is the one Jesus wants to take me deeper into.  There is tension in my heart as I consider this truth because I know it was all done 2000 years ago, by his stripes we are healed, but I do not see that in my body now.  I do not see this in the bodies of others I know but I know it is true.  Jesus is perfect theology and he healed all who came to him.  This is not my truth and yet it is not yet my truth.

I am thankful that God is more interested in the journey we are on than the destination we are heading towards because it is in the journey that we get the opportunity to press in, to lean in, to discover what he has hidden for us to find.  It is in the journey that I get to know him better and learn who he is in me and for me.  This is the adventure I am saying yes to as I say I want to know who Jesus is as Healer.  I want to know who Jesus is as my Healer.  I want to know who Jesus is as the Healer to others.  I want to step into and grow in the revelation he has hidden for me in this and I know that, at least in part, it is coming to me through communion (but more on communion another time).  I am going to take time over the next few weeks to pursue Jesus for more about him being my Healer, to discover what he wants to reveal to me, to go deeper, wider and higher into this aspect of who he is.

How about you?  Who does Jesus want to be to you today?  Will you give him room to take you deeper into who he is in your need or in your success?  Thankfully, wherever we are there is always more and so we can trust him to take us on the journey.  He’s just waiting for our invitation to him, will you ask him the question today?

Happy heart!  Blessed indeed!