Your Identity & Your Assignment  

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:1

Saul who had been persecuting the church encounters Jesus, gets converted and then becomes Paul. Paul takes the time to discover who exactly God has called him to be and steps into being that person. He begins his letters with a clear communication of who God called him to be: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 1:1, 2 Timothy 1:1, Colossians 1:1, Ephesians 1:1, 1 Corinthians 1:1 2 Corinthians 1:1)

Paul’s effectiveness and impact in life and ministry begins with an understanding of who he was. I am an apostle. Paul may have killed Christians in the past, persecuted the church, and done much harm, but he refused to be defined by his past, He chose to believe and walk in who God had called him to be. Being a believer was not good enough, joining the church wasn’t good enough, Paul pressed in to know, Lord what would you have me do? (Acts 9:6 paraphrased). Now that I am no longer Saul the persecutor of the church, who am I?

Knowing who you are is the foundation for a fruitful, effective, and impactful life. There’s a level of clarity, focus, and confidence with which you live when you know who you are. Being a believer is the start of the journey, it gives you access to discover who you are. But you must seek to know. Who are you? Who has your Father called you? What part of His agenda has been assigned to you to fulfill? 

Even Jesus showed up on earth with a clear understanding of who He was.

And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, Matthew 3:17 NKJV

After Jesus was baptized, right before He begins His assignment on earth, God communicates to Him who He was. You are my beloved son. Even though Jesus was born of a woman and raised by an earthly father, His identity was rooted in who God called Him. The fact that he wore flesh did not redefine who he was, “He was and Is “The son of God”. Peter in Matthew 16: 15-17 echoed this truth, “you are the son of the Living God”. The fact that people were not comfortable with His identity did not affect or distract Him, He lived from that consciousness. 

John the Baptist knew what God called him and that defined the scope of his assignment. When asked, John said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness” (John 1:23). I’m not a pastor, a bishop, a teacher. I am a voice. 

Who are you? 

As a believer, your identity must be rooted in God’s word. Do not let your past mistakes, your environment, your background, your pain, or your culture define you. You must seek to know what God has said about you and walk in it. Jesus called himself “the son of God” because that was what God called him. Paul called an apostle because he discovered that was what Jesus called him to be. John the baptize discovers through scriptures that he is a voice. (Matt. 3:1-3). Hidden in the pages of scripture is a revelation of your true identity, take time to discover who you are. 

Finding and fulfilling purpose based on your identity 

1. Know your Identity: I believe that hidden in your identity, in who God calls you is a glimpse of your assignment or purpose on earth. It is therefore important to know who God says you are because it helps you discover your purpose. When God calls you light, you may not know the specifics but it tells you there is something in you that has the capacity to dispel darkness.
2. Accept your Identity: Sometimes in a bid to be humble, we tend to shy away from accepting who God has called us to be. You cannot function under a grace you do not receive. You must learn to accept who God says you are, it positions you to allow God’s power and grace to flow through you into the lives of others. You must accept that you are the light God has called you, in order to function as a light. 
3. Discover the specifics of your assignment based on your identity: Everyone has a specific assignment here on earth. Jesus as the Son of God could do anything, but He knew His assignment and stayed within the confines of it. Paul was called an apostle but he was not an apostle to everyone. He was sent to the Gentiles. John was a voice, he did not just speak whatever was on his heart, he was given a specific message to proclaim. 

What ever it is God calls you, gives you an identity and points you to your purpose. For example, as believers God calls us light, but then each one must press in to discover in what area am I called to be a light? Some people are called to bring light to the area of finances. They teach us to effectively manage, utilize and multiply the resources God has entrusted to us for the advancement of God’s kingdom and preservation of His people (like Joseph did in Egypt). 

If God has called you Light, what aspect of darkness does the light you carry dispel?

If he has called you salt, what dimension of preservation or flavor do you add to those around you?

You have a specific assignment on earth, you’re not here by accident, you are not here to just pass time. Take time to find out what He’s called you to be. There’s a piece of God’s agenda for you to fulfill.

The clearer the assignment, the greater the impact. Seek until you find, then Arise and Shine.

Love always

Obebi