Who Am I
December 27th, 2009When Jon asked if I would preach for him today, I was excited and scared and nervous, but mostly excited…at first. Then when it really sank in, I thought to myself, “But it’s just me. Who am I that I should get up in front of you to bring you God’s message? What message would I bring? Where do I start?”
For a video or audio recording of this sermon, follow this link.
Exodus 3:7-14
Good morning. When Jon asked if I would preach for him today, I was excited and scared and nervous, but mostly excited…at first. Then when it really sank in, I thought to myself, “But it’s just me. Who am I that I should get up in front of you to bring you God’s message? What message would I bring? Where do I start?”
I thought more about that in this Christmas season and realized that’s probably what Mary and Joseph thought…Who am I to be chosen for this? What about Noah…and Moses…and Daniel…and Esther and all the other Bible characters that we see as extraordinary people…Who were they that God chose them?
The song I sang this morning is my favorite praise song. It’s by Casting Crowns called “Who Am I?” It says:
Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart.
Bridge:
Not because of who I am,
But because of what you’ve done.
Not because of what I’ve done,
But because of who you are.
Chorus:
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I’m calling,
Lord, you catch me when I’m falling,
And you’ve told me who I am.
In verses 11 and 12 Mike read for you today, “Moses said to God, ‘Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ and God said, ‘I will be with you…I am who I am.’” God didn’t say, “C’mon! Are you kidding me?! You’re MOSES!!! You’re a great and powerful leader with a great sense of style and SO popular with everyone!!!” God didn’t acknowledge who Moses was at all… He only acknowledged Who HE is. God said, “I will be with you…I am who I am.”
Mary and Esther were just young girls. Nothing special about them. Moses, Noah, Daniel, and Joseph were just ordinary men. What made them special? It was the special touch of God’s hand. It’s like musical instruments. They are made out of wood, metal and other raw materials. There isn’t anything special about them until someone with a special touch can make fine music with them. When I watch Brent or Lisa play on the piano, I am in awe of them. Whether it’s this baby grand on the stage, or the upright in the Fellowship Hall or even an electronic keyboard, they are able to “tickle the ivories” in such a beautiful way. They just have a special touch when it comes to music. I, on the other hand, don’t. When I was about 9 years old, we loved looking through the JC Penny catalog. Right in the center of the catalog was all of the toys and everything that we wanted. There was one thing that I ALWAYS asked for and that was a violin from the JC Penny catalog. Well, Christmas 1986, I got my wish. I remember opening it and I was SO excited! I dragged the bow across the strings and made the most awful sound that resembled a cat being tortured. My mom let me play for a few more moments, and then offered another present to open. With the hustle and bustle that comes with Christmas morning and all the gifts and having 6 siblings for our Christmas dinner, it wasn’t until a few days later that I asked, “Mom, where is my violin?” She returned it. I obviously didn’t have that “special touch”.
There’s a beautiful poem and song about a violin called “The Touch of the Master’s Hand”
Well it was battered and scared and the auctioneer felt it was hardly worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin but he held it up with a smile.
“Well it sure ain’t much but it’s all we got left. I guess we aught to sell it too. Oh, now who’ll start the bid on this old violin? Just one more and well be through.”
And then he cried, “One, give me one dollar. Who’ll make it two? Only two dollars, who’ll make it three? Three dollars twice. That’s a good price. Now who’s gonna bid for me? Raise up your hand now. Don’t wait any longer. The auction’s about to end. Who’s got four? Just one dollar more to bid on this old violin?”
Well the air was hot and the people stood around as the sun was setting low.
From the back of the crowd a gray haired man came forward and picked up the bow.
He wiped the dust from the old violin and he tightened up the strings. Then he played out a melody pure and sweet - sweeter than the angels sing.
And then the music stopped and the auctioneer with a voice that was quiet and low said, “Now what am I bid for this old violin?” as he held it up with the bow. And then he cried out, “One, give me one thousand. Who’ll make it two? Only two thousand. Who’ll make it three? Three thousand twice. You know that’s a good price. Now who’s gonna to bid for me?” And the people cried out, “What made the change?! We don’t understand!” Then the auctioneer stopped and he said with a smile, ”It was the touch of the Masters hand.”
You know there’s many a man with his life out of tune - battered and scared with sin. He’s auctioned cheap to a thankless world much like that old violin. Oh, but then the Master comes and that old foolish crowd they never understand; the worth of a soul and the changed that is wrought just by one touch of the Master’s hand.
That’s how Mary and Joseph did it. That’s how Moses and Noah and Esther and Daniel and all the other Bible characters fulfilled what God sent them to do. That’s how Jon gets up here each week to bring you God’s message. That’s how the Sunday School teachers have the energy and strength they need to bring God’s message to the children upstairs each week. That’s how each of you are able to go through life shining His light to the world in the little things you do to brighten someone’s day. It’s not because of who we are or what we’ve done, but because of who God is and what He has done. It’s because of the touch of our Master’s hand.
At one point or another in our lives, we all may ask, “Who am I?” and God will remind us that it doesn’t really matter who we when He simply responds, “I will be with you…I am who I am.”
Emine J. August
Light of the Canyon
United Methodist Church
December 27, 2009
Exodus 3:7-14
