Who We Are

ByJim Stephens

Reading: Ephesians 1, Psalm 92

It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living… (Ephesians 1:11 MSG)

As I read this, I thought of a line from a song by Bruce Cockburn, “…Everybody’s searching for who they are..”

Paul explained to the believers in Ephesus that the only way we really find out who we are and why we’re here is to be “in Christ.” Every other identity marker, every other purpose and passion for living and doing comes up short in comparison to the identity we find in our relationship with Father God through faith in Jesus Christ.

I have lots of identity markers. I’m a husband, father, grandfather, brother, pastor, outdoors person, old car aficionado, dog lover. I like to read, write, camp, serve, teach, and help other people. But my true identity is who I am and who I am becoming in my relationship with Father God through Jesus Christ. My true calling – the service and function that best suits who I am – is found in being led and directed by Master Jesus.

17 But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, 18 your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers. (Ephesians 1:17-18 MSG)

Paul prayed for you and me that we would become intelligent and discerning in knowing Father God personally because it’s only in knowing God, really knowing him, that we can know ourselves and know what he is calling us to do. Only in knowing God, really knowing him, can we grasp the immensity of this glorious life he has for us!

Prayer:

Father, Please help me to know you, really know you, so I can know myself, really know myself. I want to know you as Father so I can know myself as your child. I want to know myself in Christ so I can know what you have created and called me to do. I face the future with the anticipation of knowing you more and knowing myself better through each season of this journey of faith. Thank you. Amen.