The most important way to think of yourself and introduce yourself

By Dean Collins

How often do you meet a new person? It probably depends on the day, the stage of life you’re in, your job, or even your mood. We likely see new people often, but for various reasons, we have no time or interest in making an introduction. But when the occasion presents itself, how do you introduce yourself? I suspect all of us start with the basics: Hello, my name is. It’s a pleasure to meet you. What’s your name? If the conversation continues, it probably moves on to what you do for a living, where you are from, and what about your family? These are the benchmarks by which we identify ourselves.

Maybe you have been asked from time to time to write a letter to introduce someone, recommend someone or some organization, or support some worthy cause. Typically, we are asked because of some real or perceived weight of influence we have. Because I serve as the president of a university, students and others ask me to write letters of introduction or recommendation. They believe my title will help them secure the admission or job opportunity.

A remarkable introduction

It struck me today as I read the opening of Romans 1 how Paul chose to introduce himself to his readers: “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.”

Paul started as we often do with our introductions. He gave his name, but notice the identity he claimed next: a servant of Christ Jesus. It is truly remarkable to consider Paul’s description of himself based on how much pride he previously had about his heritage, his education, and his religious status before he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus.

Consider Paul’s description of his former self that he gave in Philippians 3:4-6 to see how much he once thought of his identity as a Jew: “If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.”

In Galatians 1, he opens reminding his readers of his previous reputation, one he took great pride in until his transformation. “For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.”

The most important role

But now the first and most important role Paul claims is that of a servant of Christ. Literally a bond servant or slave. Paul gave up his previous claims of power and prestige simply to be known as a servant of Jesus. Transformed by the power of the gospel, Paul was determined to be known simply as a servant of Christ with the one assignment to present Jesus to the world as the power of God for salvation.

You might push back on my next suggestion. I find myself pushing back as well. But I suspect that one measure of our maturity in Christ is our willingness to be known first and foremost simply as servants of Christ. It seems, though, that shedding our other identities is a long, slow, and likely painful process.

Shedding our other identities is a long, slow, and likely painful process.

Some of us have worked very hard and spent much time, effort, and money to earn our degrees, gain our status, and achieve the income that might accompany our hard work. Some work all of their lives to become an officer in a company, a business owner, or a president. Likewise, political or social status comes slowly. And usually family and culture cheer us on as we work to get ahead.

But for Paul, none of those accomplishments held sway over his heart or motivated him any longer once he encountered Jesus the one who paid for his sin, transformed his heart and mind, and called him to a higher purpose as one who would simply and clearly share the gospel, the power of God for salvation.

The world won’t celebrate your or my transformation. The world might well despise it. Yet nothing is more important than to be known simply as a servant of Christ. My prayer for you and me is that every day we shed more and more of the titles, the status, and our attachments to this world and learn to simply enjoy the freedom and the gift that is ours as servants of Jesus. I pray that each of us will find a way to lean into his name and share the gospel of Jesus with someone today!

Your time with God’s Word
‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬, 16; Galatians 1:13-14; Philippians 3:4-6 ‭ESV‬‬

Photos by charlesdeluvio and Chris Liverani on Unsplash