“I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you should be afraid of a man who will die, and of the son of a man who will be made like grass?” Isaiah 51:12

This verse contains a powerful truth for those who determine to be Christ's disciples. First comes God's awesome declaration of who He is—the One and only "I am"—and He adds extra emphasis by saying, "I, even I, am He." Second comes His action toward His redeemed ones, includ­ing you and me—His guarantee to comfort us. Third comes an interest­ing question that deserves a second look: instead of asking, "who is man that you should be afraid of him", the Lord turns it around with "who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die..."

That question deserves an answer. "Who are you," not as you see yourself, but as God sees you? In our walk as pilgrims and soldiers of Messiah Jesus, we often look in the mirror and faint at what we see. Merely human! Weak! Nobodies! And the devil is at our side to say, "That's right! Seeing is believing!"

But how does God want us to answer the question He raises: "Who are you?" We are to look into another mirror - the Word of God - and dare to boldly answer: "I am a king and a priest! I am an heir and a joint—heir with Christ! I am a partaker of His divine nature! I am seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus! I am His soldier with all of the armor of God available to stand against, and defeat, the enemy!"

The story is told of King Richard the Lion-hearted who was fighting a battle with the issue in doubt. Suddenly his armor bearer shouted to him, "King Richard, remember who you are!" He did - and won the bat­tle! You, too, are not to fear puny man. Remember who you are in Christ and fight the good fight!

My prayer: "Lord Jesus, it is not how I see myself, but how You see me, that counts. Open my spiritual eyes to see the greatness of 'Christ in me' so that I will only fear You and never fear men."

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1)
The ST. PAUL SCHOOL, with Frank Eiklor, Eileen Young and Cecilia Contreras