Paul, a servant of God…(Titus 1:1a)

With most introductions, the most important things about a person, about you, get said. It’s
usually an issue of identity that drives our response to, “What’s your name?”, when we meet
someone for the first time. It turns into a moment for us to establish who we are and what we are
about.

I never experienced this more than when I left Florida as a Student Pastor and began seminary.
Every where I went I found myself saying “Hi, I am Bryan, I used to be a Student Pastor,”
especially as we visited churches. It was as natural as breathing, my initial introduction was a
moment to say what I wrongly perceived was most valuable about me. I would vomit insecurity
while tripping over my desire to be perceived as important. A full blown identity crisis! I say
crisis, because that is the result of wrongly gathering your identity from a role. The role comes
and goes, and at times you don’t fulfill the role very well. Identity then goes into crisis mode
and you begin to swirl down the joyless rabbit hole of doubt. I struggled greatly during that time
unsure of myself and wondering if I could do anything of value for the church. This is where
Paul serves us Pastors well. In all the Pastoral Epistles, Paul describes himself in light of God.
In Titus, he says that he is a servant before he gets to his role as apostle. In 1 and 2 Timothy he
does state first that he is an apostle, but that is only a quick mention. He launches into what God
the Father and Christ Jesus has done in calling him to serve in that capacity. He understands
himself and his work only in reference to God’s work. He is first and foremost a servant, ready
to receive whatever the Lord sees fit. Since his ultimate identity is not tied to a role, in joy he is
able to serve as an apostle

Pastor, what is the most significant thing about you? Is it the role you currently have, or the
work God has already done? Don’t let your role as pastor be the place you drawn value and
significance from. That is a gift from God given to you because you are first and foremost a
servant. You are not valuable to the church because you are a pastor, it’s because he has
redeemed you and called you