Lessons from the Outside: "My Identity"

God has been speaking to me recently about my identity, where I find my purpose and value. Though his Word clearly says that I should find my value in His glory (Matt. 6:33), too many times I try to identify myself by my plans, abilities, vocation, and my ministry.

It is deceptively easy to define my identity by the ministry I do for God rather than the purpose for which God created me. God created me to reveal His glory through good works. All too often I begin finding my meaning in the good works rather than in His revealed glory.

That became clear when He removed me from ministry life. I was unaware how much of my “self” was tied to my ministry. Ministry was something tangible that I could measure myself by. I could see “lifechange” and measure things like baptisms and group attendance. If the numbers were good then it was not hard to believe that my life had great meaning; especially since all of these numbers had to do with God’s Kingdom, not my own.

I am beginning to see that when I find my identity in anything other than God’s glory revealed through me I am headed toward idolatry (with me as the key idol). That path leads to both delusion and depression. Delusion occurs when I believe I am overly important in God’s Kingdom. Depression occurs when I believe God could never use me.

The truly amazing thing is that when my value and purpose are resting on things other than God I can swing between delusion and depression at an alarming rate.

It makes me wonder if Jesus felt like he was more successful after feeding the 5000 than the day He spoke about His body as the bread of life and watched most of his followers leave. I doubt it. The mission of Jesus’ life was God’s glory revealed, not God’s glory well received and celebrated.

I have found several signs that indicate a life that is grounded in God; whose sole purpose is His revealed glory:

1. Humility and Intensity. There is a strange mix of humility and intensity from those operating under the identity of Christ. He modeled this in His own ministry. Early mornings, late nights, and days full of pouring Himself out at every turn were the norm. Followers seeking His glory have this same drive, not to lift up themselves, but to pour themselves out each day for His glory.
2. Consistent Confidence. Even your most Christ-centered follower will have difficult days or seasons of doubt. Christ himself struggled as He learned obedience (see the garden before his crucifixion). Consistent confidence comes from daily renewal as each day we lay down our life and take up His cross. God refreshes the discouraged spirit, refocuses any misappropriated glory, and removes any misplaced trust. He reminds us that victory is not a question of if, just when.
3. Creativity. God longs to accomplish His work and reveal His glory. When I line up with Him, He reveals methods of ministry that are beyond my own creative ability. When you see extremely creative ministries do not covet their creativity, covet their connectedness to God.
4. Clarity. The life of Christ revealed God’s glory through the redemption of mankind by His death and resurrection. We also reveal God’s glory through the redemption of mankind by _______________. When I am connected daily to God, it is easy for me to fill in that blank.
5. Audacious Goals. Only God would set a goal of “redeeming all of Creation.” Those connected to God have the audacity to set huge goals. Those goals often go unreached because as soon as they might draw near one they pick it up and toss it further away, raising the bar even higher. They have a hunger to see God’s glory revealed that will not be satisfied until all of Creation is reconciled to Him.

Which of these characteristics are revealed in your daily life? Which are missing, and what does that reveal about where you are finding your identity?