Do you understand your mission and identity?

When I preach, teach, and mentor leaders I often bring the message around to mission and identity.  These are the foundation for our discipleship.  

Mission is what I do.  When you are asked, "what do you do?", I'm sure you answer with your occupation.  Now, you could also answer with any number of other roles you play, i.e. parent, spouse, good neighbor, community activist, volunteer, youth coach, PTO member, student.  However, if you want to answer with the most important thing you are here on this planet to "do" the answer is, "I make disciples."  

Matthew 28:19-20 tells us that as we're going through life we're to make disciples for Jesus.  In other words all these other occupations are simply our "going."  They're the activities of life but not the mission of life.  As you are going through your life, every occupation offers the opportunity for you to share your faith and teach others how to follow Jesus.  As you work toward making disciples remember that your mission isn't exclusively individualistic, it is also a corporate mandate.  We should work together with our family and with Christian friends and we should especially work together with our church, to lead others to Christ and teach them to follow Him 

Identity is who I am.  When asked to describe yourself, I'm sure you start with your first and last name.  The answer to this question reveals how a person views him/herself and how they expect others to view them.  You could answer the identity question with the titles and the accomplishments of your life.  You can also answer with your membership in a group or your ethnicity or your social group.  Some people want to be known as artists, musicians, doctors, educators, homemakers, politicians, ministers, missionaries, union members, citizens, Americans, Pro athletes, accountants, gay, straight, Democrats, Republicans, African Americans, Latinos, Cardinals Fan, etc.  

Christians must remember that our primary identity is found in Christ.  Jesus created you, He redeemed you, He guides and provides for you, and He has a place ready for you to live in heaven.  I must remember that without Jesus I am nothing and I have nothing. Because of Him all my sins are forgiven.  I don't feel like I'm a perfect person but the fact is that in God's eye's I am perfect because when He looks at me He sees Christ in me (2 Cor 5:21.)  I am as righteous as Jesus but I certainly couldn't make myself THAT righteous.  In fact, I keep failing and falling short but remarkably I'm righteous anyway.  So, stop thinking of yourself as a failure or a sinner or a member of a group.  He redeemed your soul and gave you everything and in the process you became His.  You belong to Him.  So the question isn't "Who am I?" but, "Who's am I?"  My identity is that I belong the Christ!

2 Questions - How do these truths interact with each other?  If the greatest pupose for my life is to glorify God then, how do these truths help me to do that?