Someone knocks at the door.

You might be one of those carefree souls that just opens it without finding out who is there, but my modus operandi at that point is to get an answer to the critical question, “Who are you?”

That question is critical in more ways than one.

In Matthew 16, Jesus asks Simon Peter, “Who do you say I am?”  Peter answers directly: “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus then applauds Peter for saying what God had revealed to him.  Jesus’ next words were not about his own identity, but about Peter.  It was definitive:

“My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am.  And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.” (Matthew 16:17b-18, The Message)

God starts by telling us who he is, then proceeds to tell us who we are individually and then as a church.  I think God is constantly at work to teach and re-teach us about all three identities.

I’m going to listen for God’s answer to those three questions this week.  Will you join me?

Who is God?

Who am I?

Who is this G0d-community I am a part of?

How desperately we need to hear all three.