I'VE GOTTA BE ME

“I’ve gotta be me…”

Remember that old song?

If you’re too young to remember, please DO NOT flaunt that fact to us oldies in the audience…just sayin’

I am a product of the “ME” generation – when the driving force in life seemed to be “find yourself” and “do your own thing.”

And so, self-fulfillment became the goal in life.

Even if you’re not a product of the 70’s, we all try to discover who we are. Who am I really? Why do I act and think the way I do?

I’m the oldest of three children in my family. I don’t know if that’s the reason why this is true – but I’m an awful lot like my dad, and I’m an awful lot like my mom.

Some of the “good stuff” – and some of the “bad!”

I’m a little hodge-podge of their genes, their personalities, their thoughts and values, and their character traits.

Evidently I’m so much like the two of them that my sons see it. My husband of only 5 years sees it. My brother and sister see it.

Occasionally, I ask – is there any “ME” in here at all?

There is – quite a bit actually. I’m a blended coffee drink.

Dad’s coffee, Mom’s sugar – and a healthy dollop of my creamer…

Stir it all up together – and you get ME!

But I’ve been thinking. There’s an awful lot about me that I don’t like. There’s a lot of tinkering I need to do. Some hammering and chiseling. A few areas for touch-up paint. And a portion of the “house” that needs a complete “overhaul.”

I can’t do it myself.

“I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate…And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway…I have discovered this principle of life – that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong…” (From Romans 7)

Can anyone relate?!

What a mixed-up person I am.

Helpless in the shackles of being “me.”

I don’t know about you – but I am greatly consoled by the fact that these words came from Paul – the Apostle Paul – the great warrior of God.

He felt the “me” inside of him that he didn’t like.

Are we stuck?

Of course not!

Because you see, in a spiritual sense, we are blended coffee drinks!

I’ve come up with this example – see what you think.

Take a clear glass. We’re going to pretend that that’s our body. Then fill the glass with water. That’s going to be our spirit.

That’s a picture of the “me” in all of us.

Now, when you come to salvation, when you become a follower of Jesus, something happens.

Take some red food coloring. That’s the blood of Jesus – shed for us on the cross. Put one drop in that glass of water, and stir it up.

What happened?

Is there still a glass? Yes. Is there still water in the glass? Yes. Is the water the same? No – it’s been CHANGED. It’s impossible to tell where the water stops and the food coloring begins.

We are blended – completely and totally.

A new product – a new “me” has been formed.

We have the Spirit of the Living God within us, my friends. Power and Strength and Peace and Victory.

“…the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin…you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you…through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature…” (From Romans 8)

So, I’ve been thinking. There’s an awful lot of me that I don’t like. But God has promised to TRANSFORM me, to make me something new.

That’s what I want – to let God tinker, hammer and chisel, paint – and yes, even do a complete “overhaul.”

“I’ve gotta be me…”

No, Lord. I don’t want that.

I want to be YOUR “me.”

BLOG = “Blessedly Leaning On God!”