I AM—What's this got to do with contentment?

About halfway through the list of I AM statements, you might be wondering what this has to do with Philippians 4, my project for 2010.  This is the subject I'd like to address today, beginning with this question:

How do we handle life and relationships when things are not going the way we want?  (Can we remain content or do we become disgruntled?)  The answer to this says so much about our knowledge of God and His word, specifically who we say Jesus is and what part He plays in our daily life.

If you go back and read this post YHWH about the LORD God in the Old Testament, you'll find that this is the name He gave to Himself as revealed to Moses at the burning bush.  One translation says, "I AM," or "I AM the all-sufficient One." In other words, whatever man needed God to be, He was.

Since Jesus is the incarnation of God, He is truly I AM in the realm of humankind. He became, in flesh and blood, everything man needed, including the only way to God.  As He continues to reveal Himself throughout the gospel of John, we get a behind-the-scenes look at God's attempt to reach us through His beloved Son.

Right thinking about Jesus is necessary for faith and complete dependence on Him.  If we don't trust Him (see I AM the Good Shepherd and the Gate here), we won't believe that He wants to bless and protect us.  If we don't invite His light into our lives (see I AM the Light of the World here), we will never conquer habitual sin or feelings that are suppressed.  If we do not partake of Him, (see I AM the Bread of Life here), we will never be satisfied with what life has to offer.

Through Jesus, God the Father has communicated Himself and His character.  John 1:16-18 says:

"From His abundance, we have all received one gracious blessing after another.  For the law was given through Moses, but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.  No one has ever seen God.  But the Unique One, who is Himself God, is near to the Father's heart.  He has revealed God to us." (NLT, emphasis added)

We must see Jesus in all of His truth, all of His glory; in the fullness of His love and all of the authority of heaven behind Him.  He is the embodiment of God's unfailing love and faithfulness toward us as the scripture says. When you feel His eyes upon you, are you comforted, or are you ashamed?  Please understand this:  If you know Him as Savior, then your life is hidden in Him, and there is no cause for condemnation over your failures or shortcomings.

Nothing is concealed from His sight, so there is no reason to go on pretending or going through the motions.  Unburden yourself by casting all of your shame, your cares and worries on Him so you can experience His grace.  You will find contentment when you are able to see yourself as the object of His great love.