Exploring His Wonders
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Identifying with Christ
Last Saturday morning, I wandered in and out of the booths and festivities at the Marshall County Blueberry Festival (www.blueberryfestival.org). I was bored and hungry, so I set out on a journey to find some sort of fulfillment for my stomach.
I walked over to the KFC/A&W across the street and ordered an old fashioned root beer float. I sat there, staring out the window, and pondering my life, and wondering what in the world was in store for me. On my way out, I met a young lady named Abby, and we had a nice conversation.
Later that night we were at the Little Texas concert and amid the country/pop songs they were playing, they played one that while I had heard it before, I never really listened to it, the part that really struck me was this part:
"And I got a peaceful, easy feeling
And I know you won't let me down
'Cause I'm already standing on the ground
I get this feeling I may know you
As a lover and a friend
But this voice keeps whispering
In my other ear,
Tells me
I may never see you again "
There are people God sends in our lives for a reason, some stay for a while, some stay forever, but they are all there for one purpose or another. Sometimes we choose to ignore them, or not give them credit, but this isn't one of those times.
Sunday night, full of questions, questions I couldn't answer, and questions I was afraid to ask. Instead of sucking it up, I walked away. I got in my car, and I drove away. Two hours later, I got a phone call from Abby, and began what would turn into a all night phone conversation.
If this were a game of battleship, this was the game winning question: "Why didn't you mention you were a Christian before I did?" I paused, then stuttered through a response, and we moved on. But that question kept coming back to me this whole week. I know I am a child of the King, and that I belong to Him. I also know I am called to be a witness for him in ALL of the world. So why didn't I? What kept me from doing that?
Pride.
Is this a confession? Yes.
Throughout my life, I've made decisions, choices that will live with me for the rest of my life, and consequenses that I have to deal with. This note is for you, my public apology for the way I have acted in regards to my beautiful Savior. My failed witness in this way for Him to you. I also owe a debt of gratitude to Abby, for asking that question that pierced so deep, yet helped so much.
How often have we denied our Christ either publicly or privately? How it must grieve him when we put our personal interests, or feelings, or agenda's above His soverign will.
James 4:17 says "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."
I KNEW I was a a Christ-bearer, a Christian, and I KNEW it was my calling from Christ to be identified with Him in serving Him, but I failed to do it because of my personal pride. I sinned. I didn't simply forget, I don't have an excuse, and for that, I ask forgiveness. Both from God, and from my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
My application, through all of this, is to trust Him for further guidance in my life, and to be His, and to openly identify myself as His, because he already paid the price.
If there's one thing you guys can take from this note, its this: Live your identity with Christ, and follow His will. Unashamedly, for his grace, is sufficient!
God Bless You guys!
In Him,
Brad
I walked over to the KFC/A&W across the street and ordered an old fashioned root beer float. I sat there, staring out the window, and pondering my life, and wondering what in the world was in store for me. On my way out, I met a young lady named Abby, and we had a nice conversation.
Later that night we were at the Little Texas concert and amid the country/pop songs they were playing, they played one that while I had heard it before, I never really listened to it, the part that really struck me was this part:
"And I got a peaceful, easy feeling
And I know you won't let me down
'Cause I'm already standing on the ground
I get this feeling I may know you
As a lover and a friend
But this voice keeps whispering
In my other ear,
Tells me
I may never see you again "
There are people God sends in our lives for a reason, some stay for a while, some stay forever, but they are all there for one purpose or another. Sometimes we choose to ignore them, or not give them credit, but this isn't one of those times.
Sunday night, full of questions, questions I couldn't answer, and questions I was afraid to ask. Instead of sucking it up, I walked away. I got in my car, and I drove away. Two hours later, I got a phone call from Abby, and began what would turn into a all night phone conversation.
If this were a game of battleship, this was the game winning question: "Why didn't you mention you were a Christian before I did?" I paused, then stuttered through a response, and we moved on. But that question kept coming back to me this whole week. I know I am a child of the King, and that I belong to Him. I also know I am called to be a witness for him in ALL of the world. So why didn't I? What kept me from doing that?
Pride.
Is this a confession? Yes.
Throughout my life, I've made decisions, choices that will live with me for the rest of my life, and consequenses that I have to deal with. This note is for you, my public apology for the way I have acted in regards to my beautiful Savior. My failed witness in this way for Him to you. I also owe a debt of gratitude to Abby, for asking that question that pierced so deep, yet helped so much.
How often have we denied our Christ either publicly or privately? How it must grieve him when we put our personal interests, or feelings, or agenda's above His soverign will.
James 4:17 says "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."
I KNEW I was a a Christ-bearer, a Christian, and I KNEW it was my calling from Christ to be identified with Him in serving Him, but I failed to do it because of my personal pride. I sinned. I didn't simply forget, I don't have an excuse, and for that, I ask forgiveness. Both from God, and from my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
My application, through all of this, is to trust Him for further guidance in my life, and to be His, and to openly identify myself as His, because he already paid the price.
If there's one thing you guys can take from this note, its this: Live your identity with Christ, and follow His will. Unashamedly, for his grace, is sufficient!
God Bless You guys!
In Him,
Brad
