Identification please

 

The other day I went to the bank to cash a check and the teller asked for my identification. I gave her my driver’s license and then she asked for an additional piece to verify I was who I claimed to be. I knew most of the other tellers but she didn’t know me and she was making sure of my identity.

My thoughts then turned to my faith in Jesus. Am I more identifiable with the world or am I known by my faith? Do I merely mention to others about my faith or am I truly

living it out so others can see that I belong to Jesus? Jesus stated in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.” Primarily, those who have no faith in Jesus are concerned only about themselves and what benefits them, but as believers, we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. Our mindset is identified with Christ and not the world. We live in the world, but we are not to have our focus on the things of the world because our true citizenship is in heaven. Our real identity is with Christ.

When Peter denied Jesus, he was identified as one of the disciples who had been with Jesus. Later on, in the book of Acts, Peter and John were bold in sharing their faith and the members of the council made the statement that they had been with Jesus; their identity was in Jesus.

May we continue to strive to live in obedience to God’s word so we would be identified as being a child of God. Even when we sin, which we all do, may our reaction to our sin be immediate confession and repentance, which is a further verification of our identity as a follower of Jesus.

 

Pastor Marty