September 27, 2012

Living Proof

Thursday, September 27th, 2012

 

 

            Identity. Dictionary.com describesIdentity as “the state or fact of being the same one as described.” Think for a minute.How do you think people describe you; the popular one with all the greatestclothes, the one that never talks, the one with the greatest shoes, the loudone? How did you earn that specific identity for yourself? Are you satisfied withthat? Are you constantly finding yourself wanting to get more? Ever thought, itwasn’t enough? It’s not. In Luke 18: 18-22, Luke talks about when a rich rulercomes to Jesus and asks, “Good teacher,what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18). “Why do you call me good? Jesus answered. “No one is good-except Godalone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, donot steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother’” (verse19). “All these I have kept since I was aboy,” he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack onething. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasurein heaven. Then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, becausehe was a man of great wealth (verses 20-22). This rich ruler was searchingfor more and went straight to Jesus and asked where he could find it. And Jesussaid the answer was Him. The rich ruler thought he could do it alone, hefigured he didn’t need Jesus in his life and wanted to keep living the way hehad been. This man found his identity in material things and his money. We needto be opposite from this man, we need to find our identity in Christ. Whyshould we find identity in Christ? Finding out identity in worldly things areonly temporarily, they’ll eventually let you down, or even go away. While if wefind our identity in Christ, he is always there, He’s not going anywhere andwill be with us wherever we go. Having your identity in Christ, is what God intendedus to have. When people describe you, do you want them to see your great faithand notice how set apart you are from the world? That’s having your identity inChrist. Not conforming to this world, just living in it.     

Set yourminds on things above, not on earthly things.

–Colossians3:2