One of the simplest themes from Acts speaks to how we Identify. I did not always go by Jessica, in fact, there are people to this day that call me Cortenay. When I was born I was given the name Jessica Renee Totman. At the age of 5 1/2, after a three-year process to adopt me I became Jessica Renee Cortenay Green. It was at this time I started identifying as Cortenay. It was not until we moved to Indiana where I was required by the school system to go by my first given name that I started to use Jessica again. One of the many ways we identify is by our name. Over the past few years, I have come to understand the fundamental importance of knowing who we are. More specifically who we are in Christ. When we know who we are and what God has created us to be, we can truly live how God wants us to. Saul / Paul is a perfect example of this.
The definition of identity is the distinguishing character or personality of an individual: individuality. Identity comes from the things in life that define us. It might be a title of a relationship or the work we do. It could also be the hobbies we enjoy or the people we are around. Identity also comes from the values and morals that we keep. Believing in certain topics or ideas can also narrow our identity and link you to certain groups. Our identity is tied to whatever and whoever we give our hearts to. When we aren’t giving our heart completely to the Lord, that’s when we lose ourselves. We lose ourselves in our children, in our jobs, in our relationships, in our circumstances, and in the law. Much like the Jews.
When we our identity is lost, we need to be reminded that we are children of God. As I have journeyed these 41 years in this life, my identity has been shaped, tweaked, improved and refined but never changed. I heard a quote once “The one who gave you life has the only authority to identify you” And yet, we forget that our identity is in Christ alone and not in the roles we have.
Saul also had an identity, the son of a Jewish Pharisee, at birth he was given the name Saul. He began his work as a dynamic, zealous crusader against Christians. He probably walked around with emboldened confidence as a representative of the Jewish high priests, causing pain, destruction, and death to followers of Christ. To Saul Christians were wrong and he hated them. He was convinced he was justified in his actions. He identified as a Jew and his goal was to eradicate Christians.
Yet, God had a bigger calling for Saul, He wanted him to become a leader, writer, and speaker of the truth. Only God could save a man like Saul. Saul, who wore many masks as a defiant, came face to face with God who questioned him about his identity.
Saul being struck blind, later receives his sight and is filled with the Holy Spirit. This is the start of Saul’s identity in Christ. From the moment of that encounter, Saul changed direction, was transformed, and began to embrace his true identity. Instead of being defined by the evil he did, he began to be defined by God.
He was a Hebrew, Pharisee, Roman Citizen and yet he chose to identify himself in light of his relationship with Jesus Christ. His work and writings reflect that his identity was firmly planted in Jesus, as a Christ Follower.
It is easy to identify on what we have accomplished or what our role is at home but to realize our identity in Christ we have to recognize how God sees us. Scripture gives us many identifiers. We are…loved, chosen, forgiven, redeemed, set apart, God’s Masterpiece….
Our circumstances do not dictate or change our value as a son or daughter of God. Our identity in Christ is unshakable. We are called by God to embrace our identity in Christ and walk in love, righteousness, and purpose. God’s purpose is far superior then walking alone.
Like Saul, the first moment that I encountered Jesus I was transformed. For me Jesus was always there. I recognized him as my protector from an early age. He has been my constant companion all my life. Today I identify as a wife, mother, friend but more importantly as a child of God through the sacrifice of Jesus.
When did you first encounter Jesus?