Who We Are Changes How We Live
By Ryan Dawson
Over the past month, I’ve had the joy of walking through a Bible study with my son Josh. As many of you know, there are few gifts greater for a dad than shared time in God’s Word with his children—especially when those children are now adults seeking to follow Christ faithfully in their own season of life.
We’ve been working through The Titus Ten, written by Pastor Josh Smith, a study on biblical manhood, based on the epistle to Titus. It has been both grounding and stretching for us. With Josh preparing for marriage soon, our conversations about becoming godly men, husbands, and leaders have felt especially meaningful. And for me, it has been a gift not just to teach—but to grow alongside my son.
This past week, we focused on identity.
Paul begins Titus by describing himself as, “a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ” (Titus 1:1). The word servant can also be translated bondservant—one who willingly belongs to another. From that starting point, we reflected on four key identities that help us maximize our redemptive potential in Christ:
1) A Bondservant of Christ
Paul’s self-understanding began here. Before he was a leader, a church planter, or a theologian, he was Christ’s servant.
Titus 2:11–12 reminds us: “For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God.”
Grace saves us—but grace also trains us. As bondservants of Christ, we no longer belong to ourselves. We belong to the One who “gave his life to free us from every kind of sin” (Titus 2:14).
I resonate deeply with this identity. It feels natural for me to serve, to work, to carry responsibility. But identity in Christ goes deeper than what we do for Him.
2) A Son of God
Paul calls Titus “my true son in our common faith” (Titus 1:4). The gospel creates family. Through Christ, we are not merely workers in God’s field—we are sons and daughters in His household.
Romans 8:15 says: “You have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons, by which we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”
A servant obeys because he must.
A son obeys because he is loved.
This is an area where I sense the Lord continuing to grow me—learning to rest in my Heavenly Father’s delight, not striving to earn what has already been given through Christ.
3) A Friend of God
This one challenged me most.
In John 15:15, Jesus tells His disciples: “I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.”
To be called a friend of God—this is amazing! Friendship implies closeness, shared life, honest conversation. It means not only serving God but walking with Him.
It’s easy, especially in pastoral ministry, to stay busy doing things for God. But friendship calls me to slow down and be with Jesus. To listen. To enjoy His presence. To cultivate intimate fellowship, not just faithful service.
Abraham was called “God’s friend” (James 2:23). What would it look like for us to live as men and women who walk in that kind of nearness with Jesus?
4) A Lover of God
Titus repeatedly emphasizes devotion. Paul speaks of those who “claim they know God, but by their actions they deny him” (Titus 1:16). The Christian life is not mere behaviour modification—it is affection transformation.
Jesus said the greatest commandment is: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)
A lover of God doesn’t just obey externally; he treasures Christ internally. He longs for Him. He delights in Him.
Service without love becomes duty. Sonship without affection becomes entitlement. Friendship without devotion becomes casual. But when love fuels our identity, obedience becomes our joy.
We need to remember that identity shapes everything.
If we see ourselves merely as volunteers, we will burn out.
If we see ourselves merely as rule-followers, we will grow weary.
If we see ourselves primarily through our failures, we will live defeated.
But if we live from who we are in Christ—Bondservants by grace. Sons and daughters by adoption. Friends by invitation. Lovers by transformed hearts—then we will flourish.
Titus 3:4–7 beautifully anchors it all: “But, when God our Saviour revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”
What grace! What love!
So, let’s live from our identity in Christ as we continue to trust God for all things.
Blessings, Ryan
Over the past month, I’ve had the joy of walking through a Bible study with my son Josh. As many of you know, there are few gifts greater for a dad than shared time in God’s Word with his children—especially when those children are now adults seeking to follow Christ faithfully in their own season of life.
We’ve been working through The Titus Ten, written by Pastor Josh Smith, a study on biblical manhood, based on the epistle to Titus. It has been both grounding and stretching for us. With Josh preparing for marriage soon, our conversations about becoming godly men, husbands, and leaders have felt especially meaningful. And for me, it has been a gift not just to teach—but to grow alongside my son.
This past week, we focused on identity.
Paul begins Titus by describing himself as, “a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ” (Titus 1:1). The word servant can also be translated bondservant—one who willingly belongs to another. From that starting point, we reflected on four key identities that help us maximize our redemptive potential in Christ:
1) A Bondservant of Christ
Paul’s self-understanding began here. Before he was a leader, a church planter, or a theologian, he was Christ’s servant.
Titus 2:11–12 reminds us: “For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God.”
Grace saves us—but grace also trains us. As bondservants of Christ, we no longer belong to ourselves. We belong to the One who “gave his life to free us from every kind of sin” (Titus 2:14).
I resonate deeply with this identity. It feels natural for me to serve, to work, to carry responsibility. But identity in Christ goes deeper than what we do for Him.
2) A Son of God
Paul calls Titus “my true son in our common faith” (Titus 1:4). The gospel creates family. Through Christ, we are not merely workers in God’s field—we are sons and daughters in His household.
Romans 8:15 says: “You have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons, by which we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”
A servant obeys because he must.
A son obeys because he is loved.
This is an area where I sense the Lord continuing to grow me—learning to rest in my Heavenly Father’s delight, not striving to earn what has already been given through Christ.
3) A Friend of God
This one challenged me most.
In John 15:15, Jesus tells His disciples: “I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.”
To be called a friend of God—this is amazing! Friendship implies closeness, shared life, honest conversation. It means not only serving God but walking with Him.
It’s easy, especially in pastoral ministry, to stay busy doing things for God. But friendship calls me to slow down and be with Jesus. To listen. To enjoy His presence. To cultivate intimate fellowship, not just faithful service.
Abraham was called “God’s friend” (James 2:23). What would it look like for us to live as men and women who walk in that kind of nearness with Jesus?
4) A Lover of God
Titus repeatedly emphasizes devotion. Paul speaks of those who “claim they know God, but by their actions they deny him” (Titus 1:16). The Christian life is not mere behaviour modification—it is affection transformation.
Jesus said the greatest commandment is: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)
A lover of God doesn’t just obey externally; he treasures Christ internally. He longs for Him. He delights in Him.
Service without love becomes duty. Sonship without affection becomes entitlement. Friendship without devotion becomes casual. But when love fuels our identity, obedience becomes our joy.
We need to remember that identity shapes everything.
If we see ourselves merely as volunteers, we will burn out.
If we see ourselves merely as rule-followers, we will grow weary.
If we see ourselves primarily through our failures, we will live defeated.
But if we live from who we are in Christ—Bondservants by grace. Sons and daughters by adoption. Friends by invitation. Lovers by transformed hearts—then we will flourish.
Titus 3:4–7 beautifully anchors it all: “But, when God our Saviour revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”
What grace! What love!
So, let’s live from our identity in Christ as we continue to trust God for all things.
Blessings, Ryan