This semester I have had the awesome opportunity to serve with the student ministry at my church. They have been going through a series called "Who Am I?" which tackles this big question that everyone struggles with at some point in their lives. This past week, the lesson's big idea was, "Knowing yourself is connected to knowing your creator." It was a powerful lesson on knowing the God who created and thus knowing ourselves. I feel like anyone in any walk of life can learn from this lesson, so I wanted to share what I learned.
Ephesians 2:10 says "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." This verse shows that God had a plan and purpose for our lives before we were even born.
Acts 9:1-22 chronicles the incredible story of a man named Saul who was persecuting Christians. On the way to Damascus, Saul was met by the Lord in the form of a bright light from heaven "And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" 5And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do." Saul then rose from the ground and could not see anything. God then sent a disciple named Ananias to help Saul regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Saul then rose and became baptized and immediately began sharing the gospel. Saul went from hating the Lord and Christians to proclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord in the synagogues. Saul's name later changes to Paul, and he becomes a missionary who spreads the gospel all over the world, and he ends up writing thirteen books in the New Testament.
People could hardly believe Saul's transformation but, it was all part of God's plan. Acts 9:15 says "But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel." Saul was God's chosen instrument. Saul didn't know who he was or his purpose until he met Jesus. The coolest part of this story is that God wanted Saul to be a part of His bigger plan of sharing the gospel. God is the almighty God, the creator of the universe who can do anything by just speaking. God doesn't need us, and though He doesn't need us, He chooses us, and He wants us. God created you for a purpose, and He wants you for that specific purpose. The good news is, all you have to do is let God use you. We will never fully understand who we were created to be apart from the God who created us. God knows us and helps us become everything He created us to be.
