Picture by the very talented mother of five, Amanda Tipton
God’s love is so simple, yet so radical that it is nearly impossible to comprehend.
God is love, and God’s love must be the first step and focal point of who we are. God’s love is not logical by our standards. It is unconditional. It’s not based out of our merit, but out of his. We must base our identity on who we truly are; a child deeply loved by a magnificent Father who is the author of love itself. We must start with love to give ourselves the necessary permission to go anywhere else. If God’s love is not the root of our identity, then our identity will have no base.
How long have I known about God and yet failed to recognize him as he daily passes by? How long have I failed to hear the whisper or feel the touch of his unconditional love? To truly know God, his love must be deeply felt; a knowing as deep into the heart as it is the head. A knowing that changes you for good. A knowing of God’s love that transforms who we are.
Accepting ourselves as dearly loved children gives us permission to struggle through the process of self-discovery, which will aid us in our search for true calling. We must see ourselves as Christ see us. This is the only starting point, worth starting.
Who Are We?
Our identity cannot be found in a list of accomplishments. Because if our love for self is based on accolades, then what will happen when all the voices of praise have fallen silent? What will happen when the path to our calling becomes incredibly difficult? Perseverance will be utterly necessary if we are to walk down the path of our true vocation. If our false self is leading us, we will be lost by first nightfall.
God wants us to know him. God desires for me and you to just spend intimate time with him, connecting in personal conversation as we would with a good friend or spouse. God loves who you are. Yet how often do we neglect the relationship? How many times have I missed the profound simplicity of a life spent in conversation with God because I was consumed with my seven-step-spiritual plans or daily agendas?
To know God and to be known by God is foundational and is something I have missed almost my entire life, like continually missing the train and then wondering why I never make it home.
God’s Love is Our Vocation
So, “what do you do?” It’s our conversation starter—our flint. We hope it sparks a picture of this person. What job is the real you? A tough answer when your job, or lack of job, is any thing but. But is this even the right question? We should not be asking each other what we do, as if a quick title sums us up. No, it is who we are that trumps all. Our identity in his love is our true, all-consuming, vocation.
Our identity is not a job.
Our identity is His love.
We dwell in Him and He lives in us. I have heard others talk about a circle of love, I think I am beginning to understand this. It’s a continuous, never ending source of love and we participate in it. We are a new creation in Christ and through Him we participate in this neverending source of love.
Thanks Joe for leaving this great comment. “Never ending source of love.” I think you described it perfectly. I like the visual of a circle that does not have a starting nor stopping point. It is always. It is forever.