Be who you are – know who we are. 

Be who you are – know who we are. 

I am Kevin Vawser. A short intro for those who have not ‘met’ me yet. I am Lana’s husband and have worked with her in this ministry for almost ten years. I have studied and received my Degree and later Graduate Diploma in Ministry (focused on biblical studies) and often teach with Lana in our schools. Lana will write these posts as well, this time around I felt I had a message to share. 

I was reading through 1 Corinthians today. I love reading through Paul’s epistles — I found the more time I spent repeatedly reading his texts (each as a complete text) I saw his arguments clearer and even challenged a lot of the theologies I had held closely before. God’s word is truly alive, and I will always recommend that we as a body of Christ spend more time being immersed in His word and learning His truth. We should not lean on others to define truth for us, when we have the word within our grasp.

1 Corinthians has many themes, but one that I found interesting today was the concept that we are uniquely made and gifted for a purpose. We all have heard the Ephesians 2:10 passage: ‘For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.’ Lana and I both sat under a great bible college lecturer who loved this verse and created a flagship course around it. 

Popular verses, however, can have a numbing affect to the truth at times though,  and unless we spend time considering the truth of the notion, we can find ourselves inoculated against what the verse is saying.

I was considering this concept – that we are His workmanship, created for good works and thinking about the many things I find myself doing during a week.  Sometimes these things are what we would consider Church activities, other times these activities are not ‘religious’ but more creative – or even rudimentary. In either category, as I go about these activities I can have moments of connection with Him and feel His joy as I go about my work.

I have worked in many industries over the years and there is danger in finding identity in your vocation. At times I have enjoyed a secular job and found myself languishing when that season ended. In each such moment, my solace comes from embracing the Lord as Father, as a source of life, the source of my goals, and yes, the source of my identity. This does not have to wait until I finish a job of course, when I have done well in a job in this position of worship — I can see how my job brings glory to God — I can see Him shining through me and even see His grace aiding me in the work. 

As Christians we can find ourselves being tempted to be dissatisfied when we are in a secular position — or feel uncomfortable when a brother or sister is excelling in their secular role. The truth of the matter is, that the Kingdom of God is built not just in the pulpit but also in the coal mine, the computer desk, the laboratory or the mechanic’s hoist. In my various roles I have never hidden the fact that I was a believer. Sometimes when a character flaw came up, I would be afraid that it would reflect badly — a concept we should consider, as we are all emissaries of God’s holy kingdom. However, despite the few moments I regret, there were other moments where people initiated conversations with me about God, because they knew I was different and could be seen as someone that cared for whatever they were going through at the time.

We all have a job to do in this world. During the Dark Ages, when the Bible was locked away in Latin texts, the concept of an anointed priest versus the lay-pleb was a lived reality. However, this is not the intended truth of the Kingdom of God. When Paul was describing his part in the work, the preaching and nurturing were only parts of what God was doing in the lives of the Corinthian Church. Paul did his part, Apolos too — but the finished work was as much you as it was Corinth — the work they both took part in was the fertile field that you are.  Either way, Paul understood that the part he played was just a part of the bigger picture — but the bigger picture is the most essential part of it because the finished work was multiplication. (See 1 Corinthians 3:5-10.)

Paul wrote that passage to quell a division among the Corinthians, as some were dividing themselves among teachers. Often Paul called for unity among the Church, something that we have lost focus of today. Despite the differences, there is a single task that each person must embrace, and we do that by embracing who we are in our current space, and also embracing others no matter how different they function. We are many people, with varying gifts and tasks but we all work for the one Kingdom. Paul writes:

“For in fact the body is not one member but many.

If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?  But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.  And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.  And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.” 

“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.  And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?  Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts.”

1 Corinthians 12:14-22,27-31a NKJV

The church of Corinth was not populated entirely by 5-fold ministers. He encouraged everyone to desire ‘the best gifts’ but he also encouraged people to be who they are, to embrace this and shine. It is in this place that His grace will shine through you.

I encourage you today to continue to embrace Him who has created you, called you and has begun a good work in you. Do not let mistakes define you but continue to stand in defiance of the one who would seek to disqualify you. As you draw near to the One who has created you for a work, you will see the fingerprints of the master in your own life, and when you embrace this in faith you will see Him shine. Just don’t give up, and don’t become complacent.

God is doing a great work in this world, and He has created you to be a part of it, with the rest of the body of Christ (yes, even those with theological differences). Our job – to walk in maturity and continue to embrace who He has created us to be – and who we can be. To remember that our life is worship even in secular roles and know that He does use you and wants to use you there. To know His word and be ready to share the truth about who He is and why He is Lord. 

We are all parts of a great work.

Have a great day.