It took me a long time to realize I failed to understand that my true identity was that I belonged to Jesus and that I existed to serve and please Him. Once I realized that, life became simpler. I knew I was His disciple and that I needed to focus on loving and serving Him and all those in my life.
Welcome to "Preparing for the Passion: A Spiritual Journey through Lent," a new weekly series to enrich your observance of the holy penitential season.
By Sylvia
PassionofChrist.ca
Here's a thought to consider during this Lenten season. The pathway to personal success and fulfillment is blocked if we do not know our "true identity." All roads lead somewhere, but are we on the right path?
One day Jesus asked “Who do you say I am?” Saint Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.” Luke 9:20
Peter was privileged to know the true identity of Jesus. Peter knew that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, Our Lord and Savior, and that He came into the world to save it. Jesus knew He was God’s Son and that He would have to suffer and die for our redemption.
It is easy in life to get very busy and to lose sight of our "true identity" and if we do we are at risk of not fulfilling the plans God has for us.
Who are we really?
Many people equate their true identity with what’s written on their business card. People may say, “I am a business man or a lawyer or a doctor, or a construction foreman etc.," but does what we do sum up who we really are?
If we had to sum up our true identity in a few words, what we would we say?
For some people knowing their "true identity" is very natural. For example, there are some women and men born to be mothers and fathers. Raising their children, protecting them, loving them, and helping them to grow up to be people of upstanding characters is very natural and key to the fulfillment of their identity as good parents.
But sometimes the pressures of making money and building careers can get in the way of living out our true identity and suddenly motherhood or fatherhood takes a back seat to getting the next promotion. We may think these are sacrifices needed to build a better life, but is that how God would see things?
Focus and perseverance are essential to success. If either are missing, goals become jeopardized.
Who do you belong to?
It took me a long time to realize I failed to understand that my true identity was that I belonged to Jesus and that I existed to serve and please Him. Once I realized that, life became simpler. I knew I was His disciple and that I needed to focus on loving and serving Him and all those in my life.
At the end of the day the thing that mattered the most was LOVE, LOVING GOD, AND LOVING ALL THOSE HE GAVE ME.
We are all precious to God. We are all God’s children, His very own special possession, and God has a plan for each of us, but if we don’t take time to pray to God for guidance, we may never discover that our true identity is that we exist to serve and please Him. God is the master planner and He knows what we need to be focused on.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
So, if I had to answer the question “Who am I?”
This is how I would answer:
I am God’s!
I am a disciple of Jesus and everything I do, I do for HIM!
Sacred truths
God wants to teach us and guide us and help us to understand sacred truths that people focused on a superficial material existence will never discover:
"This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it–the LORD is his name: 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'” Jeremiah 33:1-2
At the beginning of my spiritual journey, I felt like I had to “unlearn” many things before God could teach me the things that were important to Him. God challenges what we commonly refer to as “conventional wisdom,” i.e., the body of beliefs that the general public deems to be true. For example, society tends to see powerful people as people with money and influence, yet God sees differently.
If we are truly God’s people, we will understand that God is the true source of power. God is all powerful (omnipotent), and believing in Him and trusting in Him and serving Him is the source of our power. We do not derive power from money or status but from God’s grace enabling us to do whatever He wills for us to do.
This is how Jesus defines honor:
“Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” John 12:26
See Jesus in the world
Serving Jesus effectively requires that we see Jesus in our world. He is right under our eyes. As we love and serve our spouse, our children, our neighbours, our friends and our colleagues and all those in need we serve Our Lord Jesus.
“This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5: 2-4
This Lent, let us stand together with Christians all over the world every day at 3:00 p,m, (the time Jesus died for us) honouring our Holy Lord who suffered and died for us so that we can one day be with Him in Paradise. Let us pray for the mercy of Our Saviour Jesus Christ upon all souls.
Let the love of Jesus penetrate your heart and change your life, enabling you to fulfil your true identity as a child of God and follower of Christ.
Blessed Lent!
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