who do people say I am?
"Ahh.. the pen! We would be jobless without the pen, all that we do around the hospital is paperwork, that’s all they need us for, fill this in, sign that, write that up…" - semi-sarcastic fellow intern.
"penny, you’re gonna be here till 8 if you’re always doing the other people’s jobs. Just keep to what’s necessary…" - semi-reprimanding senior colleague after I helped another colleague look after a sick patient.
Subtle, but these are things that potentially would shape me day after day, especially in these impressionable early years as a junior dr. I’ve always enjoyed learning from others, being teachable, but more and more the responsibility lies in me to filter what I’d allow into my thoughts and soul.
When Jesus asked Peter "who do people say I am?"… He already knew who He was. He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God - the confidence He had lied in His identity. It wasn’t shaken by His hanging out with unimportant, insignificant people, it wasn’t crushed by His bending down to wash His disciples’ feet.
My identity is in Christ - I am a child of the Living King, who is rich and hence I am able to be generous to offer to others based on what’s in His account (’savings’.. hehe..)! And I want to continue to have the loving, compassionate, gracious mind of Christ, careful not to allow myself to continue to be stifled and restricted by the mindset of "just doing the necessary", of being narrow and small. Because I believe I have more than medical knowledge to offer.
Everyday, words will be spoken. We don’t have control over what people may say…
But…arrest/filter/resist words spoken over you that drive you further away from His destiny for you. And accept/meditate/practice with diligence words that agree with what He says about you in His Word.
Who does He say you are?
“Do not fear; let not your hands be weak. The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
