Jesus asks his disciples at Caesarea Philippi “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” Matthew 16:16-19
Who do you say that I am?
- Messiah, or Christ – meaning ‘Saviour’, one who saves – this is what He does
- Son of the Living God – this is who he is related to
We’re all defined in these 2 ways – what we do, or are known for and who we are connected with.
“But who I am is not defined by what I do!” you may say . But why not ? Isn’t it a good thing that out of you comes action that you are passionate about and you are known for.
The question then is do you want to be known as “David, the accountant”? “Bryan, the dentist”? “Nathalie, the hairdresser”? or would you rather been known as “David, you could always count on him, he was reliable”, “Bryan always brought a smile into our lives”, “Nathalie, is a cut above the rest!”
We would all love someone to say something like: “He is passionate, driven by a cause, believed very strongly, He built the House, lived for the kingdom – He is one of God’s great agents here on earth”
So its not so much that we are living for our career but for what God can do in and through me and my career as a kingdom activity. We are first here for God’s plans on earth and as agents for Him in every sphere of life.
We are then also defined by our relationships. The question of who we spend most time with is a good one to ask ourselves if we want to be in control of what will define us. What tribe are you connecting yourself into? The group you hang with will become part of shaping who you are.
In 1999 I came into contact with our ‘tribe’, C3 Church, it has increasingly, over the years, helped shape who I am and what I’ve become. Our success is never a result of our isolated effort, but a powerful combination of those we do life with.
Could you be defined by your relationship with God or does it have little impact on your life? If your relationship with God is a primary influence on your life He will be the primary shaper of your identity.
Jesus was defined by what He did and who He was connected to. He then defines Peter that way too – Peter because of your connection with the Father I change your identity, and what you are to do – be a person on which I can build the Church with.
Your identity is forged today by what you choose to be known for and who you choose to be known to be associated to. There’s a thought!