it's Nita.

Such a loaded title. What a hefty set of words: Calling, Purpose, Identity. The very essence of meaning in our lives can be summed up with these three words. And yet can be the source of so much aghast, confusion, and searching. We could spend a lifetime trying to find ourselves and still be no closer to the truth.

Because the truth of the matter is… to be found we must look to our creator. The creation cannot determine why it was made. It simply is and exists for a purpose.

Let’s start with the first word, Purpose. Why am I?

The world gives many reasons and answers to this question but ultimately you are because of God’s grace and divine purpose to bring about reconciliation to himself. Our purpose is to know and have intimate fellowship with God through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. By this fellowship, this relationship, our purpose is to be ambassadors of Christ on earth. To fulfill the great commission.

Matthew 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

That’s it. This is our purpose. Yet, how purpose is filled looks different for each of us.

This is where calling comes in.

A calling is simply an invitation. God calls us to join him in his great work. We have a choice to answer or not; to be obedient or not.

I encourage you to think beyond the singular here. You may have many calls over your lifetime. In different seasons of your life. Calling is not just limited to your career. All encompassing, callings are directives from God to go or do a particular thing.

And might I add, this may or may not be pleasant. Even Jesus asked his Father to let the cup pass from him (Matthew 26:39). That he be spared having to go through with the crucifixion but in the end submitted to the will of God, his father.

You see calling will take us into the deeps of despair and brings us to the highest of joys. It all works together. The point of our calling is to fulfill God’s purpose and plan.

Romans 8:28 ““And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.”

Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

This is where thinking about identity becomes so important.

Identity as the world discusses and conceptualizes it is much about the self. It is about our affinity, personality, ego, and uniqueness. But there is a difference when you think about identity or rather what is means to identify with Christ.

Being one with Christ means we are identified, recognized by God as heirs and co-heirs with Christ. We have been adopted into sonship, daughtership. It is not longer about our old self and it’s labels.

Romans 8:16-17a “the Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.”

Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Who are you? You are the idem. Latin for “same”. Your identity is the same as Christ. That is the bedrock of who you are as a child a God.

We are marked and distinguished in our inward selves by the Spirit and the fruit of our fellowship with Christ bears out for all to see.

John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

This is our purpose, our calling, our identity. One body, many members. Brothers and sisters in Christ.

His Best!

Always,

Nita.