Can You Introduce Yourself?

Romans 1:1-7

Message No. 0700 | Twitter @GodandUs | www.wisdom-speaks.ca

Most interviewers start by asking candidates to introduce themselves. This is not just an academic exercise or an activity to fulfil all righteousness, but employers really want to know who the candidate is. For some, it is the very start of the introduction that the employer decides that this is not the candidate, because if you cannot handle this part satisfactorily, how would the employer rely on you to meet and hold discussions with its clients or customers.

Even among colleagues, when we meet new people in meetings, it is customary for the leader to ask each person to do self-introduction. It’s the same in the church. When a new pastor is posted to a church, an introduction to the congregation is required. When a pastor goes to preach in another church, an introduction is required. The question is, as God’s children, how do we introduce ourselves and what details do we emphasize in the into?

One of the people we notice in the Bible who introduced himself many times was Paul. Now, Paul had two histories and two titles. When he was Saul, he was a Pharisee, and would most likely be greeted or introduced as Rabbi. This was a very prestigious position and title in Israel. If Pharisees were passing by, they were greeted with respect and reverence. But when he became Paul, he was no longer Pharisee but a child of God, an apostle who was separated to the gospel of Christ.

As the Bible says, when one gives his or her life to Christ, old things are passed away and all things become new. Therefore, from the moment of his encounter with Christ on the way to Damascus, we witness a complete turnaround for Paul. He never introduced himself as a pharisee anymore except to emphasize the importance of his greater calling. When Paul introduced himself, he would say something like:

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God (Romans 1:1).

But how could Paul switch so easily to forget his respected position in the society and forgo the mini worship that he received from people as a Pharisee in Israel? The answer is simple; Paul had a higher calling. He suddenly realized that he had wasted his youthful years pursuing the respect of man and having no idea that he was actually the enemy of God. From the moment of his encounter with Christ, his perspective changed and everything he gained became rubbish to him. Look at his words in Philippians 3 verse 7 – 9:

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

Paul was so sold to Christ that he made it clear in all his letters to the churches that he was a bondservant of Jesus Christ. He referenced himself as a chief sinner who was only in the position he was by the grace of God. He humbled himself before everyone and endured all of the challenges he encountered. He was not at any time tempted to go back to the privileged life that he lived as a Pharisee. To him, it was Christ or nothing.

How do you introduce yourself to people today? I am not asking about your introduction at work or in your business environments, but other than that, what part of your history is more important to you? Do you want people to know more about your academic and professional achievements than your position in Christ? Years ago, I read a writing of Pastor E. A. Adeboye, where he told us that in his early days as the General Overseer of the RCCG, his nameplate read Reverend Dr. until God asked him which title was more important to him. He told us that God told him to erase all of those titles and simply refer to himself as Pastor. This is the reason why as highly respected as he is today, the only title you see him bear is Pastor.

When we give our lives to Christ, we need to do a 180 degree turn by switching attention from what we used to be to what we are now in Christ. All of the titles of this world will cease one day, but who we are in Christ will remain important forever. Knowing Christ is our ticket to heaven, our eternal abode. We do not need to go about introducing ourselves to everyone, but when we have to, and wherever it is appropriate, let us not forget that we have been saved by grace through the blood shed by Jesus Christ the Son of God.

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 PLEASE ACT NOW:
 If you are yet to give your life to Christ, you do not have a covenant with God and His promises do not apply to you. To come under these promises, please surrender your life to Christ today, by praying this prayer:
 Lord I know that I am a sinner and I am unable to save myself. I am sorry for my sins and I pray that you please forgive me. I am aware that Your Son Jesus died for my sins and I accept Him as my Lord and savior. I surrender my life unto you from this moment. Please take control of my entire being and help me to be obedient to your Word, going forward. Thank you, Lord, for hearing me. I have prayed in Jesus’ name. Amen.
 If you prayed the foregoing prayer, you have just been born again. Please find a Bible believing church in your area and ask to see the pastor. Let him or her know that you have just given your life to Christ and s/he will guide you on next steps in your journey as a child of God. The Lord bless you!