There once was a rabbi who roamed the countryside meditating on scripture. From morning to night he would walk aimlessly through the wilderness inquiring of the Lord. As he walked he would tap his finger on his forehead as if to pound the truth direclty into his mind.
One morning he set off into the wilderness pondering the nature of God’s holiness. Off he went into the glare of the sunrise, tapping his forehead as he went.
He wandered and wondered. Where his feet landed is where he went, without a care, without a worry.
At near dusk, with his feet dusty and swollen, the silence and solitude was shattered with a loud voice that rang out to him.
“Stop! Right there!”
The rabbi looked up, completely unaware of his surroundings. Before him stood the high wall of a Roman fortification. Perched at the top of the wall was a Roman guard who was both alarmed and upset at the sight of this roaming rabbi.
“Hello,“ responded the rabbi.
“Who are you and what are you doing here?” commanded the Roman guard.
The rabbi smiled up at him and responded with a question of his own, “How much do they pay you to ask questions like that?”
“5 denarii a day,” declared the guard, with pride.
Still smiling the rabbi said, “I will pay you double that to come to my house and ask me those same questions every morning.”
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Who are you and what are you doing here?
We should be asking ourselves that very question every day. The answer you give will dictate whether or not you understand your identity and what directs your life.
If your identity and direction is found in yourself then your answers, just like your feelings, circumstances, and situations, will change every day. If your identity and direction is found in the living, breathing, life-giving good news of Jesus Christ then your answer will never change.
You are new creation with the compelling nature of God himself (2 Cor 5:17), and you whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, you were created to bring Him glory (1 Cor 10:31).
Who are you and what are you doing here?
Great thought bro’…living a life of purpose takes…purpose! Bless ya bro’
Thanks Jay!
I guess I belong here. Jay sent me. Creative writing (my Wheaton major 50 years ago, right after IBM pumped electricity into a typewriter) snagged me. Ryan Tate’s “Parade” essay helped. Then is here one. I like it. I don’t fully get this dude crew. If it’s good enuf for Jay, it’s good enuf for me.
Gary, thanks for stopping by and reading. I’m glad Jay sent you!
Glad to see you here too Gary! Regarding the “dude crew” thing… we’re really just a bunch of folks that want to grow in Christ and see our world changed for Him… Glad to have you here! Let me know if there is anything that I can do for you!