In the orphan world system that we live in, we find our identity in the
things we do and what we possess. That is why there is such an
emphasis in life to climb the corporate ladder, acquire as many
possessions as you can, etc. The more we achieve, the better we feel
about ourselves. On the flip side, the more we fail, the worse we feel
about ourselves.
This kind of motivation leads to a life that
not only has lots of ups and downs, but is a very tiring way to live.
The more that your identity is directly related with your performance,
the less secure you will be in life. After all, what will happen if you
cannot perform any longer? Who are you then? Are you less valuable?
Are you less lovable?
What happens if an economic catastrophe
wipes out all your possessions? What happens as gravity sets in as you
grow old and you no longer have the perfect physique? Who are you then?
I believe that even the very thought that some of these things might
happen, can cause many people to live a life of fear because they
believe that both their happiness and identity are conditional.
We
may be loved by the world as long as we can keep up appearances, but
what happens when the time comes that we stumble and fall? What happens
when we fail to live up to the expectations of other people? From a
Christian context, what happens when we fail to live up to the
expectations of church life? Are we any less loved by God?
Of
course the right answer is that we are loved by God no matter what we
do. That His love for us is not based on our self effort, but on what
Jesus did on the cross when we were powerless to do anything about it
(Romans 5:6). While most believers know this to be true on one level or
another, there are still remnants of an orphan belief system in our
heart that looks to our works to establish our identity rather than to
God.
In this week's blog, we want to look at how Jesus took on
the lowliest expression of servanthood towards His beloved disciples
when He washed their feet. Let's read the entire text in John 13:1-5...
Now
before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had
come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved
his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During
supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot,
Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given
all things into his hands, and that he came from God, and was going to
God, 4 arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a
towel, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 Then he poured water
into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them
with the towel that was wrapped around him.
In order to better
understand Jesus' servant heart in this situation, it is important for
us to take notice of the verses just preceding the washing of His
disciples' feet in verses 3 and 4... 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father
had given all things into his hands, and that he came forth from God,
and was going to God, 4 arose from supper, and laid aside his outer
garments. (WEB)
Jesus knew that He was the beloved Son of God.
He knew that His Father had given all things into His hands. Jesus knew
that He came from God and that He was returning to God. It was this
revelation of who He was that defined Him, not what He did.
Because
Jesus was the Son of God, He could do anything. He could heal the
sick, raise the dead, and yes, He could even wash His disciples' feet.
Nothing that He did could ever compare with who He was though. After
all, He was the beloved Son of Almighty God!
The good news of
the gospel is that we have been given the same Spirit of Sonship
(Galatians 4:6-7) that our Elder Brother walks in! The truth that will
set us free is knowing this to be our reality... We are no longer
living separate from Him but have been joined with Him in all His glory
(Romans 8:17) because we are His co-heirs. That is why Paul wrote in
Colossians 1:27 that the mystery of the ages is simply 'Christ in you
the hope of glory'.
If we really know this in our inner man,
the revelation of sonship will be enough in the midst of a broken world
system that wants more from us. Sure, Jesus told us that we would do
greater things than He did because He was going to His Father. But even
the greatest of all achievements this side of heaven will pale in
comparison to us simply being called the children of God (1 John 3:1).
My
prayer today is that we would all know that our identity in Christ
will never be defined by what we do or what we don't do. Our identity
is not determined on how much we work, how much we achieve, or how much
we sacrifice. Our God given, unshakeable identity was secured for us
when Jesus defeated death, sin & Satan on our behalf and invited us
to join Him in His union with His Father (John 17:23).
May the
revelation of God's great love give you courage to simply be who Papa
created you to be! Whether that is doing great exploits in the Kingdom
or having a nap. May you carry within your being the knowledge that you
are a much loved son or daughter to Almighty God... just like Jesus is
(Romans 8:29). May this identity be enough even in the midst of a
world (and sometimes a church culture) that demands more from you.
It
is my hope and prayer that the compass of all our hearts would always
be calibrated to the love that God has for us. Whether we achieve or we
fail, whether we work or whether we rest, may we all know that God's
love will never ever change towards us and our identity as Papa's
beloved children is secure forever.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8 1
If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have
love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have
the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I
have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am
nothing. 3 If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give
my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing.
4
Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is
not proud, 5 doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its
own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; 6 doesn’t rejoice
in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things,
believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never
fails. (WEB)