Knowing Your True Identity Defines Your Responsibilities

by Rick Warren — December 27, 2019

“[Moses] chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time” (Hebrews 11:25 NIV).

Yesterday we talked about how knowing God helps you understand your identity. Today we’re going to see how knowing your true identity helps you define your responsibilities. It helps you understand what God expects of you—and what he doesn’t.

I learned long ago that God doesn’t expect me to sing opera. If you heard me sing, you’d know why. One day when I stand before God, he’s not going to judge me for how I sang. Singing is a gift he didn’t give me. It’s not what I was created to do.

We’ve been looking at the life of Moses. God planned Moses’ life events to prepare him to deliver the nation of Israel from slavery in Egypt. God planned that Moses would be born a slave but raised as royalty.

When Moses learned his God-given identity, his true responsibility became clear. He could no longer ignore the cries of people in pain. He chose to accept responsibility for delivering his people from slavery.

Hebrews 11:25 says it like this: “[Moses] chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time” (NIV).

What about you? As you get to know God better, you get to know yourself better. As you get to know yourself better, you understand your God-given responsibilities more clearly.

Some people live like they’re responsible for everything. That leads to worry, a warning sign that you’re taking on too much responsibility. You’re not responsible for everything. But you are responsible to be what God made you to be. Romans 14:12 says it like this: “Each of us will give an account of himself to God” (ESV).

God chose Moses’ parents so that Moses would be a Hebrew who could deliver his people from slavery. God used your parents in order to make you uniquely you.

Many circumstances of Moses’ life were difficult, but God used them for good. The same is true of you. God chose for you to be born, and he can use every detail of your life for good.

Your choice is whether you’ll say yes to God and no to other things. Moses said no to living as an Egyptian prince. He said yes to accepting his God-given responsibility.

As you learn your God-given identity, your responsibilities will become clear, too. You’ll learn when to say no and when to say yes. Knowing your identity will define the things you are responsible for.

Talk It Over

  • Think about the details of your life story. What do they tell you about your God-given identity and responsibilities?
  • How has God used difficult circumstances in your life for your good?
  • What responsibilities do you need to say yes to today? What do you need to say no to today?

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.