Remembering Who You Aren’t
July 12th, 2006
When Harry S. Truman was thrust into the presidency at the death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a man named Sam rayburn gave him some helpful advice. “from here on out you’re going to have lots of people around you,” he said. “They’ll try and put a wall around you and cut you off from any ideas but theirs. They’ll tell you what a great man you are, Harry,” and he continued, “but you and I both know you ain’t.”
In our daily lives, we would be wise to remember who we are, and how far we have come in life. However, I believe it is almost as important for us to keep a firm grasp on who we are not. In the first chapter of the gospel of John, we find John the Baptist illustrating such an idea. In this passage, John is confronted by some priests and Levites who came to ask him who he was. John 1:20 says, “He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, ‘I am not the Christ’”.
Obviously, John was indeed a special man. Jesus himself testified about John the Baptist, saying that “among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11). However, even though John was chosen for a specific task, and was honored greatly among men, he still remembered who he was not.
Surely, John the Baptist might have been tempted to think of himself more highly than he should have. I think that temptation comes any time we experience high honor or position of any kind. We like to think that we are better than others, or that we have accomplished great things. John was very wise to remember that he was not the Christ. John kept in mind that no matter what praise men gave him, ther ewas one greater than he, one whose sandals John considered himself unworthy to stoop down and untie.
We too must remain humble, no matter what praise or position might come our way. For there is always one greater than we. May our lives as Christians point to the one who is greater, the only one worthy to be praised.
Will Cooper
Senior Minister
Entry Filed under: Will's Blog