So many college students, their first 30 days on campus, experience a significant crisis… an identity crisis. With so many things changing, so many new influences, so many new people to compare yourself to and impress, it’s sometimes easy to fall into the trap of questioning your value and purpose.
Let’s remind ourselves of some truth today…
1) God has given you immeasurable value that no one or nothing can change.
Consider the words of the Psalmist, who said,
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. – Psalms 139:13-14
Have you ever considered what it means that you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” by the Creator of the universe? The apostle Paul reminds us,
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. – Ephesians 2:10
As a “masterpiece of God,” you have been given a value that is priceless! And nothing can take that value from you.
I like to illustrate this point by pulling a $20 bill out of my wallet and asking who wants it. Of course, if I’m giving away $20, most would want it. (You never really understand the value of $20 until you get to college. Am I right?!) I then like to wrinkle up the money and ask again who wants it. Even after stepping on it, getting it dirty, and sneezing on it, the response to those who still want the money seldom changes. Why do people still want a $20 bill that is dirty, wrinkled, flawed, and even broken? Because no matter the condition or abuse it has endured, the $20 bill still has value!
If I did the same illustration with a piece of notebook paper, I doubt anyone would want it. But it’s different with money because a power with proper authority (U.S. Mint) has taken a piece of paper, has made it special, and has assigned a particular value to it that cannot be changed.
That is what God has done with us. He has made us his “masterpiece” and has demonstrated our priceless value by giving his very Son, Jesus, to die for us so that we could have life in and with him. (Romans 5:8)
If the Creator of the Universe loves you with such an unconditional love and has uniquely made and gifted you, why would you ever allow any attention from a guy or girl, any comparison to anyone else, or any opinions of anyone to take your eyes off of the priceless value given to you by God??
2) You were created by God to fulfill His purposes.
Most of our identity issues are related to a foundation problem. You were created for God’s purpose, you were not created so God could help you with your purpose. Getting this backwards has caused many people to build their lives on the wrong foundation.
But for us, there is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live. – 1 Corinthians 8:6
For through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. – Colossians 1:16-17
We were made for God. Forgetting this simple truth leads to much frustration and identity issues.
If I tried to use my toaster oven to make a smoothy or my blender to make toast, what would happen? Right, I would have a hot mess! Well that’s exactly what happens when we try to use our lives for purposes other than that for which they were created.
It’s important to remember… a successful life is not a life that’s measured by comparing your life to what others have done, a successful life is measured by comparing your life to what you are supposed to do.
Well, what am I suppose to do?? So how do I live His purposes??
In discovering your purpose, start with what you KNOW is God’s purpose for you.
2 Foundational Commands from which our purpose flows
Great Commandment: Jesus is clear about what matters most to Him in Matthew 22:36-40. When asked “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied:
‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
Great Commission: In his final moments on earth, Jesus reminds his followers of his authority, gives them a mission of huge significance, and promises to help them accomplish his purposes.
Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ – Matthew 28:18-20
This mission is our mission. The apostle Paul reiterates the significance of this mission and purpose in 2 Corinthians 5:20,
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
God has given you priceless value, and he wants to use you for his purposes. There is really no greater identity and no higher calling than what God has given you.
So today, remember this… In Jesus (nothing else) we discover our priceless value and divine purpose.
We are praying for you as you live in that wonderful truth today!!
This devotional is one in Sugar Hill Church’s First 30 devotional series for college students.
To access the entire series & podcasts be sure to check SHC’s site each day,
as new ones are added daily.
(Who can you encourage today by sending them this devo?)