During our first year of planting City Hills I was at a conference for church leaders. After one of the sessions, a group of us were eating together. I was at a table full of people who had planted churches and I was eager to learn.
I asked one of them, “What is something that you wished you would have done differently in the early days of your church?” I was fully expecting to get some type of a tip or tool about how to grow the church, but his answer surprised me.
He said, “I would have lived every day realizing that I’m a beloved Son of God and that the success of this church has nothing to do with my identity.” Then he went on to share about his struggle allowing success to define his identity instead of allowing God to define him.
He told me, “God is not interested in you being a human doing, He wants you to be a human being. He wants you to know who you are.You are a beloved child of God and nothing can add or take away from that.”
It was some of the best advice I’ve ever received. It is easy for me to attach my worth and value to external realities. The Lord was doing deep work in me, challenging me to see my identity in Christ apart from the ministry. The two greatest commandments are to, first of all, Love God, and then secondly, to love people. It is important to get the order right. It is easy to allow our work for God replace our walk with God, and I needed to hear that.
Do you know who you are? God’s Word says:
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…
Jeremiah 1:5
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all my days were written in Your book and ordained for me before one of them came to be.
Psalm 139:14-16
Listen to me, all you in distant lands! Pay attention, you who are far away! The LORD called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name.
Isaiah 49:1
You are more than what you do. You are more than the seeming success or lack thereof that you are experiencing in this season. You are a child of the most high God! Live in that truth today about your identity as a child of God! You don’t have anything to prove. You don’t have anyone to impress. You are a unique adopted son or daughter of God. Don’t try to be someone else today. Rest in who God created you to be! Whether you are in a difficult season or an enjoyable season, know that none of that changes your identity! You are who God says you are!
So keep on walking. Keep on trusting! Keep believing that God has a purpose for all that you are walking through right now. Refuse to allow others to be the voice that defines you. Allow God’s voice to define your life and embrace His grace for your life today! God is not through with you. The best is yet to come!
Thank you Lord for calling us out! Thank you for putting purpose in our bones and giving us an identity. Today we choose to walk with you and give our whole hearts to you. In Jesus name! Amen
I can’t wait to see you at City Hills tomorrow at 8:30am / 10:00am / 11:30am! Join us in person and live online at cityhills.com
