Lessons Learned on the Journey

My sister became a Penn State University fan as a result of her graduate studies there. She would invite me to watch Penn State football games - Penn State cheers filling the air and Nittany Lion bumper stickers everywhere. She still continues to share her copy of the Penn Stater magazine with me. You might say, it is a small portion, but not the essence of her identity.

We often reveal our various passions by how we want to be identified. Although I am a physician, I have at times enjoyed my identity as a soccer and rugby player as much as being a doctor. We reveal much by our choice of identity.

Spiritually, we sometimes choose our identity by the religion we have chosen or inherited (Anglican, Orthodox, Protestant, Roman Catholic) or by the doctrines of our faith. But is that the distinctive identity to which God has called us? He has challenged us to a greater identity -- to be holy as He is holy. Impossible!

Our call to a Christ-like identity evidences itself, not in cheers or bumper stickers, but rather in a character of rich faith and living hope. We are marked by small traces of humility, mercy, hunger for righteousness and extravagant love. The result is a desire to share our passionate identity in Christ with others of like mind and to share that identity with those who don't.

If we are God's children, we are called to exhibit His character and spiritual image. Now that's an identity! Will anyone notice a trace this week?

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1