There’s Only One True Source for Identity and Purpose
By Rick Warren
"It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for." Ephesians 1:11 (The Message)
The only way to know who you are and what your purpose is in life is to look to Jesus Christ. Why? Because he created you!
"We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created . . . everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him" (Colossians 1:15-16 The Message).
The phrase "in Christ" is one of the most important in the Bible. In the New Testament it is used 89 times, and the phrase "in him" is used 79 times.
If you have trusted Jesus Christ for salvation, you likely call yourself a Christian, but the word “Christian” is used only twice in the whole Bible. In biblical times, the most common description used for a follower of Jesus was "in Christ."
That directly points to where you should find your identity as a follower of Jesus. Ephesians 1:11 says, "It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for" (The Message).
In Christ, you find out who you are—that’s your identity. And you find what you’re living for—that’s your purpose.
The only way to know your identity and purpose in life is by getting to know your Creator. You may think you know yourself best, but God knows everything about you. He made you to love you, and he gave you a purpose only you can fulfill. If you really want to find out what that purpose is and how to pursue it, you have to get to know Jesus Christ and ask for his wisdom and direction.
When you look for your identity in other people, you're not going to find it. When you look for your identity in your job or your hobby or your accomplishments or your causes, you’re only going to be disappointed.
When you find your identity in Christ, you’re going to find your purpose and the motivation to get to work on it.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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