How Do You Identify?

1 Timothy 1:1 (NASB®)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope…

Letter writing in New Testament times was a little different than in our day. The writer would not have stationary with a name across the top or an envelope with a return address. So instead of the letter beginning “Dear _______,” it would begin by identifying the writer. Paul’s New Testament letters have remarkably similar opening lines. With a few variations, he stated his name and then identified himself by what he considered the most important thing about him: He was an apostle of Jesus Christ, called by God. Even when writing from prison, and knowing that his words would be read by anyone who handled the document, he never backed away from identifying with the Lord. Instead, that was his calling card: “I am Paul, a servant of Jesus of Nazareth. I am writing to you under His authority to share His message of hope.” In this age when “identity” seems to overshadow almost everything else, how do you identify yourself? More than anything else, I want to be called, “Follower of Jesus of Nazareth. Child of God.”

THINK ABOUT IT
Do you own an identity as primary, which if it were suddenly taken away, would leave you lost and confounded? An identity in Jesus Christ remains forever and never leaves you bereft of vision and purpose. 

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, help me truthfully examine how I define myself, and give me the grace to repent where I have identified with anything or anyone to a greater extent than I have with You. May Jesus take the highest place in every part of my life. In His name, amen. 

Source: World Outreach Church