The apostle John referred to himself as the “one Jesus loved.” What an identity? How you identify yourself will do much to shape the direction of your life. In an interesting study, researchers took a group of men and women and randomly divided them into two groups. First, they did a baseline eye test on each individual person in both groups. This is the sort of eye test most of us are familiar with, where you stand a certain distance from an eye chart and then read letters and numbers. Then one group sat in a lounge and simply enjoyed a few hours break. The other group was taken into a room where they were dressed as World War Era pilots. They took turns on a flight simulator. The researchers talked about how pilots needed good vision. While still dressed in their new identity, they again took the eye test. These “pilots’” eyesight literally improved. How we look at our identity really matters.
How do you see yourself?
This is not an exercise in naming it and claiming some fanciful version of who you would like to be. This comes from a time of prayer and interaction with God and asking Him how He sees you. Again, this is not “what do family or friends say about you?” This is all about what God thinks of me. Now friends and family and even strangers might be a tool that God uses to communicate and confirm what He says. Ultimately, what we are doing is sitting, walking and listening to the King of Kings. He has developed a role for you in His masterpiece story. Your role might be an extra in the background of a minor story, but it is a role that was designed for you specifically. If that is your role, play it with all of your energy and passion.
However, your role might be one of great impact. Do not discount what the King says to you. Go live for all that He is calling you to. It is really easy to look at where we are currently and have difficulty seeing what God wants our life to be like.
Consider that soon after David escapes an attack by King Saul he goes to the desert where he is surrounded by the outcasts of society. These men were in debt and were disdained by most of society. However, God saw them differently. Today these men might be college drop outs, unemployed, addicts or the homeless. These are men who have failed morally, socially and feel hopeless. However, God sees something different in them. If you are in this position you may struggle to see His view of things. But these same men several chapters later in the Bible have a new public identity. These are David’s Mighty Men. Check out their exploits. This is possible for you.
My friends today is the day to sit with the Lord and ask Him what He sees. He may not give you the full picture. Do not simply sit on a temporary position but seek His eternal view. Beware of accepting roles as your identity because roles change. This must be greater than anything that is like shifting sand. We are working alongside God to be forged into a tool that He can use for His purposes great and small.
