Titus 1:1; 1 Corinthians 15:8-11

·        Paul’s specific identification was that he was an apostle of Jesus Christ.

Like Paul, we are all bondservants.  But specifically each has a calling from God by which we serve Him.  In Paul’s case he was an apostle.  Strong’s definition of this term is: 1 a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders. 1a specifically applied to the twelve apostles of Christ. 1b in a broader sense applied to other eminent Christian teachers. 1b1 of Barnabas. 1b2 of Timothy and Silvanus.  Paul had this calling in the specific sense, as did the twelve (one born out of due time, 1 Cor. 15:8).  

These special bondservants called apostles had a special authorization (this is the emphasis of the word commandment in Titus 1:3) from Christ.  This is seen in Mark 3:14-15:

ü They had been with Christ.  I.e. they were eyewitnesses, especially of His deity and His resurrection (cf. Acts 1:21-22; 2 Peter 1:16; John 1:14).

ü They were called to preach the gospel and to bear testimony to His resurrection (cf. Acts 10:39-42).

ü They were able to perform signs, miracles and wonders to confirm the word of Christ, the gospel of our salvation (cf. Heb. 2:3-4).

In addition Paul’s calling was unique in that he was the apostle to the Gentiles (cf. Rom. 1:5-8; 15:15-16; Gal. 2:7-8; Eph. 3:8).  The gospel needed to be proclaimed to the Jews first to give the nation the opportunity to receive their Messiah.  But then the gospel also needed to go to the Gentiles and God’s hand was on the Apostle Paul to not only preach but to stand firm in the salvation of Gentiles without having to become Jewish (be circumcised, keep the law, etc.).  It is this calling that had brought Paul to Crete and then, after leaving, to have Titus stay behind to complete the ministry.

What is your specific identity, according to the calling of God?  Let me say, you are not an apostle like Paul.  They were the foundation of the Church (Eph. 2:20).  But you are, if you are a believer in Christ, called to be part of building the holy temple on top of that foundation.  He has gifted you, made you part of a local fellowship and called you to be His bondservant in specific ways.  Titus was an assistant of Paul so to speak.  Some in Crete were elders.  How has the Lord outfitted you for His service?

Here is the point with respect to self-image.  We need to free ourselves from the thought that who we are is of our own making.  Our Lord is the one who places us in the body as He wants (Rom. 12:3-5).  A good slave seeks to know his Master’s will.  And then he finds the greatest satisfaction is being that person, the one his Master desires him to be.