Kingdom At Work
From the very beginning, God demonstrated His creative power through work. He crafted the earth and everything in it, and His desire was clear: for us, as men and women, to govern and steward His creation.
“Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.” — Genesis 2:5
God’s design includes our responsibility to cultivate this garden—a divine calling to steward the gifts He has entrusted to us. Work was never meant to be a punishment; rather, it is a precious gift. Imagine how our lives and careers would transform if we embraced work as worship, viewing our tasks as opportunities to dwell with God while remaining confident in our identity and calling.
Last month, Kingdom at Work hosted its inaugural Work with Purpose Conference, uniting over 600 Kingdom-minded individuals eager to embrace work as worship. God is stirring something new within each of us, igniting a desire to work with purpose.
Understanding Our Identity in Christ
To fully embrace the concept of work as worship, we must understand who God says we are. Our spiritual identity is an absolute truth that guides us into our unique calling.“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” — Ephesians 2:10
Do you know how God sees you?
Personal Testimonies of Transformation
Consider Connor Steel, the manager at Alcove Farms. Connor shares, “As I began my journey in the agricultural industry, it dawned on me that I was doing the same work God commissioned Adam to do—stewarding His creation. This humbly shifted my perspective on my purpose. I didn’t know where it would lead, but the freedom came in allowing God to guide me as I honed my skills.”
Seeking God to reveal your identity is the first step in discovering your calling. Jackson, a Senior Graphic Designer for Betenbough Companies, reflects on his transformative journey. “I grew up in church, but five years ago, I was radically impacted by the goodness of Jesus. My identity was wrapped up in my creativity and my work; excelling felt like the only way to meet expectations. A mistake at work would lead me to feel like a failure.”
He continues, “Studying Ephesians changed everything. Paul’s words shook me awake: Ephesians 2 reveals that we were spiritually dead in our sins, but then, verse 4 introduces us to two of the most powerful words: ‘But God.’ This truth revolutionized my understanding of identity.”
Embracing Your True Identity
Now, Jackson emphasizes, “I no longer find my identity in my work. My true identity rests in being a child of the living God. Nothing can alter the love my Father has for me.”
Understanding your identity in Christ is essential for living out your calling. Without this foundation, you may miss out on the fullness of life that God desires for you and those around you
Jackson shares, “When I made a mistake in the past, I would tell myself I wasn’t good enough; that mistake defined me. But now, I feel empowered to take creative risks, allowing me to infuse life, vision, and identity into ideas, businesses, and concepts through design—without fear of failure.”
The Journey of Spiritual Identity
Your understanding of identity and calling is intricately linked to grasping and believing in the nature of God within you. This beautiful journey of spiritual identity and calling begins with embracing the truth that work as worship reflects our divine purpose. If you’re serving in the marketplace, you have a unique opportunity to experience and share the Kingdom of God.
What would happen if you believed WHO God says HE is—and, most importantly, who YOU are in Christ?
Take Action
We challenge you to spend time with the Lord and ask Him to reveal your identity so you can walk in the freedom of your calling. By embracing work as worship, you can transform not only your own life but also the lives of those around you.
To discover more on spiritual identity and calling, join Kingdom Business Basics beginning October 2024.