“How are you?”
It’s interesting to think about the very common response I receive when asking this. It’s almost as if I asked “how busy have you been?” or “What all have you accomplished lately?” I’m talking about myself too. Over the years, I’ve been on a learning curve of realizing that I am not a human “doing”, but a human “being”. Your accomplishments or your view of the lack there of is not the answer to how you are. If anyone could blow someone away with what they’ve accomplished, his name is Jesus. In fact, John said in his gospel: “Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written (John 21:25).”
Jesus had all types of opportunities to accomplish and show off His accomplishments. Here is one of those opportunities and observe and ponder His response: “But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray (Luke 5:15-16).” Don’t you love how in this moment, He knew that He did not have anything to prove to people through doing? But, He withdrew from the stage just to be with His Father. What confidence and security in Jesus’ heart for Him to respond this way! Why does He respond that way and where does He get this confidence and dependence of resting in His Father in Heaven.
I believe the answer is found in how Jesus’ Father set Him up for life and ministry. Jesus’ Dad spoke identity into Him when He was baptized: “The Holy Spirit descended on him.. like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased (Luke 3:22).’” God showed His Son how pleased He is with Him through simply His identity, a beloved son.
[tweetable author=”@toddlollar”] God overhauled Jesus’ to do list. Jesus knew His identity from the very beginning is who He is as a Son and not what he does. [/tweetable] God overhauled Jesus’ to do list. Jesus knew His identity from the very beginning is who He is as a Son and not what he does. Jesus gave you and me a similar identity that we can live confidently and restfully from: “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26).”
Be encouraged to rest in Jesus and live from your sole identity of being a child of God through your faith in Jesus. Let’s don’t seek after approval from our achievements that will never fulfill.
What if we had a “Who I am” list along with our to do list to remind ourselves who we are in not based on what we do?
Only Jesus fulfills you: “In Christ, you’ve been made complete (Colossians 2:10).” Let’s live confidently that our self-worth is in Christ alone. Let’s trash the approval cycle and thrive from the rest and identity we receive in Christ. [tweetable author=”@toddlollar”] Note, Jesus’ missional living launched from the spoken identity His Father imparted in His life BEFORE Jesus “accomplished” anything! [/tweetable]