When we were growing up, most of us heard other kids at one time or another bragging and boasting on the playground about being the best at something. Now that we’re adults, we look around and see that nothing has really changed. There’s always someone willing to loudly boast and brag that “I am the greatest…” and we can fill in the blanks. However, spiritual maturity teaches us to recognize who really is the greatest.
Boasting based on our own merits is pointless. This is a sign of pride and arrogance. We must instead defer to someone greater. “But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord…” (Jeremiah 9:24, NLT).
The Old Testament gives us an early glimpse of the great I AM when God told Moses to go to the Pharaoh and command him to release His people. Pharaoh’s attitude was haughty and proud, and Moses was timid about delivering God’s message. When he wondered if the people would believe him, God’s answer was quick and decisive. “And Moses said unto God, behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, the God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, what is his name? What shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you” (Exodus 3:13, 14).
The world can knock our thought processes out of alignment and fool us into thinking that we can succeed by ourselves. We can become incredibly self-absorbed. When we’re tempted to trash talk about how great we think we are, we must remember who gave us everything we have. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:1, 5, NKJV).
God can be many things to us. When Jesus began His earthly ministry, few people recognized who He really was or understood the meaning behind His messages. Many of His lessons taught the different facets of God’s nature. “Then said Jesus unto them again, verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine” (John 10:7, 9, 11, 14).
Jesus is too big to fit into a box and He has no limitations. He has no equal; not even death is greater than Him. He proved this when He brought His friend Lazarus back from the dead. “Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:23-26). Jesus’ question is a challenge to us; He’s waiting to see if we accept and believe it.
