When I was a teenager, I used to identify with a group we called, “freaks.” Basically, freaks were anyone who was not a “jock, ” anyone who played sports, liked anyone who played sports, got good grades, etc. Freaks all had long hair, scruffy clothes, and could immediately be identified with our group. Looking back, I find it ironic I would jump from one “counter-culture” group to another. Like Christians, “freaks” had norms that ran opposite of what most of society would call normal. Today, young people have different names for the groups they identify with, but nothing really changes within the groups. People basically remain the same–and just like “freaks,” even those who are trying to be so different each begin to look like the other. As we grow older, we often find different groups to identify with. There are car clubs, motorcycle clubs, bible study clubs, chess clubs, golf clubs, and on and on. As Christians, we can belong to just about any of those groups, but is that truly who we should “identify” with? Our real identification needs to be with Christ. As the days grow nearer for His return, society will increase the way it shuns us. The Bible even says many of us will be “put to the sword” (either killed or jailed by the government). The Lord has brought me a long way, and surely anyone who’s received the Holy Spirit and begun a sincere walk with the Lord has been equally changed. If you’ve been saved by His blood, then you have been clothed with His Spirit. Identify with the Lord… no matter what it brings your way. When people look at you, they should immediately say, “Christian!”
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29
In Christ,
PastorJimKilby @Kilbin8er Jim@JamesKilby.com
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