From Dee:
Today I spent time in the word from Hebrews 9:1-10, and as an act of confession and application, had this idea: Our identity is never to be caught up in our jobs. Ok, I know some may be thinking, how did he come to those conclusions? Maybe I'll post on CrossCultured my exegesis, but by way of summary, let me just say, God had an intention behind the Law, but the author of Hebrews in chapters 8 and 9 especially seems to be saying, "it was never for the purposes in which you have made them." The works of the Law are clearly (inherently) limited.
Unfortunately, I have made literal work my identity, and I am being called to repent of such thinking. How many of us ask or are asked by way of introduction, "so, what do you do?" There is nothing wrong with that, but whenever I answer that question nowadays, I find myself cringing to respond, "I'm currently looking for work." What does that say? I have no worth if my identity is in my occupation? But look at the flip-side, let's say I worked as a physician. If my entire identity was wrapped up in that, then I would be a person of worth as long as I was still of working age, with physical and mental ability to perform my duties, and having a place of employment. So what happens when (not if) any of those things cease to exist? These are the sort of conjectures that have been swirling in my head while trying to apply the wonderful truths of Hebrews to my present reality of unemployment. Job statuses are meant to change! It makes no sense to put all of our worth in something that is meant to have a limited timeline as well as limited function behind it. No, my primary identity is a child of God. My primary aim in life is to Glorify Him by enjoying Him. Consequently, my main objective in life is to cultivate and exude that identity in all of the temporary, albeit significant, duties that I am assigned throughout my entire life. Please be praying that I find a job that I can most gladly do this, but also that I would recognize the sovereignty of God in this waiting period. Thanks so much!
