A Heavenly Viewpoint

Posted on by stevenlucht1

Squished against a couple of strangers, as you share the immediate space around you for two hours, doesn’t really appeal to most people. In fact, I really don’t think it really appeals to anyone! Most of the time, I would rather drive than fly in those conditions. However, recently flying has put an amazing perspective on life.

Whenever you fly, you can oversee miles of landscape. Whether that be the majestic mountains, the open plains, the beautiful canyons you can see some amazing sights. You look down upon the twists and turns of the roads, the fields and towns. You are able to see a completely different viewpoint of the earths topography that you wouldn’t be able to see as well on the ground. This really put into perspective how God looks upon our lives for me. He oversees everything. Scripture teaches that God knows even when a sparrow falls to the earth. He knows the hairs upon your head, and ultimately, He knows what is best for you.

So, What do you we with that kind of viewpoint? Well, I’m glade you asked.

Trust. We get so uptight and concerned of what’s around the next corner that we soon forget that God has all things under His sovereign control.  I so often look upon my life and believe that right after the bend in the road is going to be a broken down bridge that will bring me to my falling and I have no way of slowing down or stopping. Failing/falling to whatever problem that came about. Ultimately, it goes straight to overthinking. Overthinking is completely taking your trust away from the Lord and trying to take control of whatever situation you are going through alone. Personally, I hate being alone and I know full well what happens when I try to take control by myself. We all know that doesn’t end well.  God knows what’s around the corner. He deeply desires that we trust in HIM!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”
~Proverbs 3:5-6

God knows what we need and what is good for us. He knows you better than you know yourself! That broken bridge may not be there at all but a beautiful time that God has planned for us. Our minds get so wrapped up into what might happen and lose sight of what God truly has in plan for us.

When you devote your life to Christ you make a huge decision in God, you are not going to know what is around the next corner. Why should you?! If you knew absolutely everything that was going to happen to you in this life, would you really be trusting God? NO, of course not! You would be trusting in your own deity. .A deity that truly doesn’t know what you need. GOD DOES! He knows what is good for you and He desires to give you the things that are good in life. We need to learn to put our trust into our heavenly father.

Is this easy? No. If anyone tells you that trusting God is easy they’re lying. Trusting the Lord takes time and an enormous amount of prayer. You will know the direction that you are to go by the answer to prayers. If God is leading you are answering those deep prayers in a manner that you should keep following that path, you obviously should continue down this road. He has planned something great for you even though in the beginning of this road it may seem difficult. God is working this beautiful story for you!

I had someone not too long ago remind me that just because we want something in life and pray dearly about it doesn’t mean that’s what God desires to give you. How will we know the difference? Through those prayers. Like before, If  the prayers are leading you close down the road, keep going. However, if doors feel like they are continuously being closed, seek after the Lord and guidance in what you should do. Trust. Always know that God desires to give you what is good and maybe what is good is a different road than you are going.

In Romans 8 it explains that we don’t even know how to pray as we should so the Spirit is interceding for us. It goes on to say that Jesus is interceding for us. He want’s what is good for us. Anything that is good comes from above! (James 1:17) When you truly see God working to bring things together, be patient. It’s a hard lesson to learn, but the blessing that overwhelm when you are giving your trust to the Lord will overflow your heart. It’s something that I’m truly learning now and know will continue throughout my life. When you have something that you can’t help see God placing in your life that is good, make sure you give it right back to Him. He is the one that rains down the blessings and He is the one that deserves all the credit and glory.

When we practice this level of trust in God, true joy will come upon you. Divine happiness and contentment. Paul expressed in his letter to the Philippians that he has learned to be content in all circumstances. In the good and the bad we ought to always give everything to Him through prayer and supplication. You will find that to be closest to God comes when we are on our knees giving Him our requests and desires.

Philippians four teaches that we ought to let our request be known to God. An all knowing God wants you to tell Him what He already knows. Seems kind of pointless, doesn’t it? Of course not! He wants that communication. He wants that connection with us. How amazing! God wants you! Trust in Him that He will provide and guide you down this road in life. Cling to what is good! For it comes from above!

“Delight yourself in the Lord
And He will give you the desires of your heart.”
~Psalms 37:4

Keep remembering the viewpoint that God has on your life.

The Industrialized Christmas

Posted on by stevenlucht1

As any good man would do, I was walking around in some different stores doing my last-minute shopping today. Typical guy… I know. I found myself getting overly annoyed with Christmas as I watched countless others running around trying to find that “perfect” gift for their loved ones. (Now hear me out, I am not putting down getting others gifts to display your love for them.)

Our society, secular and nonsecular communities, have this mindset that we MUST give out gifts of some kind. It’s rude or inconsiderate if you don’t. I always felt guilty when I didn’t get anyone a gift.

Recently I asked some people around the stores what they most enjoy about Christmas, most of them expressed getting gifts. Really? THAT is what you most enjoy? Yes, of course, you get the few that express the company of family and friends. However, How would you react if you came to the house on Christmas day and you heard that you were to receive no gifts?

The mindset we should really have is purely on Christ. It’s bothered me for a while that we have put “presents” above the “presence” of Christ. Christ came to this earth. Now, He didn’t just come down in this massive thrown and proclaimed His deity. (As He very well could have done.) He came down in a dirty manger. This was only the beginning of the ultimate display of divine love for us.

“… I have loved you with an everlasting love…”
~Jeremiah 31:3~

God loves us so incredibly much that He sent His only son into this filthy sin infested earth to cleanse us of our sins. Wow! I don’t know about you, but THAT blows my mind.

Romans 8:31-39

I’ve honestly not been the biggest fan of Christmas until this year because of the industrialized season. A dear friend of mine expressed that it’s the greatest time of year, because without Christmas there would be nothing to be thankful for! They couldn’t be more true. After they said that I decided to really get into the meaning of Christmas. Not the  presents but the presence of Christ. The very fact that we have a Savior that willingly came to this earth and died for our sins. Again…. WOW!

Maybe you are the few that TRULY focus on the meaning of Christmas. That’s amazing and I dearly want to encourage you to continue in such awe for our Savior. However, maybe you are one that tends to get caught up in the industrialized Christmas. Then I too want to encourage you towards reading what scripture says about the ultimately divine display of affection that God had unto us. Dive into the Word and read about this love. Read about the TRUE gift this Christmas.

Matthew 1:18-25.

The Blinders of Life

Posted on by stevenlucht1

Have you ever driven down the road and you see a horse and buggy traveling along the road? If you have, I’m sure that you noticed the horse (or horses) have blinders on. They will put those on the horse so that they don’t get spooked by whatever may be coming up behind or on the side of them. They are only able to see what is right in front of them.

Wouldn’t it be interesting to see a human wearing blinders? It was quite comical looking up pictures of such attire. (I see a new fashion coming soon) As humorous as it may be, so many Christians are wearing such contraption. Now, it may not be a physical blinder, but a spiritual blinder.

Too often my head can get the best of me. For whatever reason I will get in a frustrated mood. Once in this mood I will start to overthink whatever area of life that is giving me frustration or disappointment. From there, it only grows. I will get more frustrated because of my frustration. (Makes sense right?) My mind will start to believe whatever lie that has festered in my thoughts until I believe it to be reality. That’s when the spiritual blinders are put on. The reality around me turns into tunnel vision that looks right down on the dirt path I’m walking on. We see the potholes and mud puddles and forget to look up and see the beauty that surrounds us. It really boils down to ones pride and selfishness. One tends to see only what we want to see and not what God is trying to show us. In part, we forget who we are in Christ. In these times, I get thoughts of depression and negative self worth.

In our day to day lives we can get so caught up in the business. We quickly lose sight of our surroundings and all that God is providing. There are flowers flourishing and we see the dirt around our feet, He places paintings of awe and wonder around us in the sky and all we focus on is the cloudiness that dampers our day. He passionately pours out His love to us that we barely notice it because of our spiritual blinders. STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES! Satan loves the spiritual blinders, and he will gladly put them on for us. (Even though most of the time we put them on ourselves)

When these times of depression come, it’s like being in a small boat and it’s slowly sinking. I watch as I feel hopelessly fall deeper into thoughts of failure and doubt. Satan wants to destroy us in any way that he can. (John 10:10a) He would love to see us fall and to sink into these mindsets. Now the beginning of verse ten expresses the destruction that Satan would love to see. However, in the latter part of the verse it expresses to resist. Resist clearly means to block out or stop. He WILL flee from you! You have God on your side!

These blinders are just as easy to put on as they are to take off. Read God’s unfathomable Word, and get on your knees and pray. The greatest ways that you can resist those thoughts is by diving into the Love Letter from God, to get on ones knees in supplication and we should be in constant prayer throughout the day. What greater way than to spend time alone with God. Read about all that He has, is and will be doing in your life! I have a hard time being in a depressed mindset when I read about His love for me. Then spend time talking and pouring our your heart to Him. When we make a common practice of spending time devoted to God, we will experience a spiritual high that words will only dim the true breathtaking high.

Lately, I’ve started a habit that has greatly helped me in my day to day life. It helps keep these blinders off and be able to constantly see the blessings that God places all around me. Anytime a thought or lie creeps up into my mind I will immediately stop what I am doing and take a short time to ask God for help. God is the one that will give us strength to overcome whatever thought, sin, depression may try to creep into our heads. (Phil. 4:13)

So, will you join me in this quest? Life can get really difficult at times. Strive to keep the spiritual blinders off and to see all the blessings and beauty that is around us. God deeply desires a personal relationship with us! Take the blinders off and see what He is doing.

Know who you are in Christ.

The Conversation of a Lifetime

Posted on by stevenlucht1

What if I told you that I recently got off the phone with Aaron Rogers, 21 Pilots, Billy Graham, Donald Trump, or any famous person out that you really want to meet? Let’s say we were catching up on life and try to call each other every other week. You would be fairly impressed, or even have some kind of desire to be able to talk with that person also. I feel like most of us, if not all, are willing to admit that we would get pretty excited if we had the opportunity to sit down with someone we really look up to in the “famous realm”. Whether that is someone in the music industry, sports area, or in the mission field we all have someone that we would really like to meet.

Here is the interesting predicament that I find. We would do so much to be able to have that conversation with that famous person and get all giggly or excited about it, but have little affect over our personal conversation with God Himself. “Wait, hold on a minute….” you may be thinking, “I definitely value my conversation with God more than I would with a famous person.” Now, let me challenge this thought. Are we the type of people that mention our relationship with God or would you boast to your coworkers and friends that you were able to talk/be a close friend with a famous person. Think about this for a minute. When is the last time you mentioned to anyone how God answered your prayer, small or big? When’s the last time you even expressed your relationship with God to any nonbeliever? Now if you had the opportunity to talk with Aaron Rogers, whether you like him or not, I almost guarantee you that you will be telling others about that conversation.

When is the last time you really thought about who you are talking to when you pray? The Almighty God, the I AM, the All Knowing, the Lover of your Soul. He is actually listening to what you are saying! Even thinking about this should get you excited! I AM!!! There is no greater comfort knowing that we have the opportunity to reach out to the Almighty God!

“Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?”
~Corrie Ten Boom~

Open God’s Word to I Thessalonians 5:17: “Pray without Ceasing” (ESV). It’s an incredibly short verse that packs a mountain of meaning. Praying shouldn’t be something you feel you HAVE to do, it should be a passion and desire. Keep in mind the One that you are talking to. Here’s something that might throw you off. If you don’t want to pray… DON’T. However, you are going to miss out on one of the most incredible relationships you could ever be involved with.

So, How DOES God answer prayer? Well, we will touch on what I see the three most common answers: No, Yes, and Wait.

No: This is by far one of the hardest answers. Whether this involves a huge opportunity/”door” closing, or a change in careers. The answer spans to all kinds of areas of life. The majority of the time this is not the answer that we desire from God. However, it’s one of the greatest teaching moments that God can bring you closer to Him. He always knows what is best for us and “no” might turn into the biggest life-changer that you needed. The verse that I always try and keep in mind when I feel God has told me no is I Thessalonians 5:18:

“Give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (ESV)

Yes: Now I Thessalonians 5:18 is really easy to practice in this answer. “Yes” can give you absolute joy, depending on the situation. The warning I give when this is the answer God gives you is give the praise right back to God. He has allowed whatever circumstance to happen and He is the one to get the praise. Don’t be going off boasting about how you did whatever to get that new job, promotion, or dating relationship. It was God’s hand that guided and helped you along and He is the one to get the praise.

Wait: For some, myself included, this can be the most challenging answer. What am I suppose to do in this wait??? “Wait” never means to stop praying. I find the waiting period to be the most growing and challenging. Whether that’s praying for a beloved friend or family to deeply desire God more than this world, or waiting to be in that relationship you desire to be in, or even that next step in your career path. Wait is the time you spend all the more time in prayer. Luke 18 expresses this well.

“And he told them a parable
to the effect that they ought to always pray and not lose heart.” (ESV)
~Luke 18:1~

One of my favorite activities to get alone with God is going for a walk. Some people call me nuts, but I love going for looong walks. Recently, I went for a 20 mile walk. There was a specific area of my life that needed deepened prayer. It forces me to get away from the distractions that may pull me away from my time of prayer at home and focuses me on why I am walking. Sometimes it’s to focus on a person struggling or asked for prayer, or to pray about different areas of life (either present or future.) Prayer is one of the greatest parts of our relationship with God.

Now, we have looked into how great prayer is. Why is prayer so important? Why is it something that I need to set time aside for and to practice praying more often?

You have an open communication with God, and you abuse that communication. He desires so deeply to have a personal relationship with you!

“Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving
let our requests be made known to God” (ESV)
~Philippians 4:6~

Why should we let our request be known to God? Isn’t God all-knowing? I’m glad you asked! I see this as a deepening desire between God toward us. He desires to have a personal relationship with you and wants the best for you. He wants your attention! Are you giving it to Him?

What if someone you desire to be in a relationship or someone you are in a relationship with never talked to you or barely talked to you. The relationship isn’t really going to be healthy. There is no communication. How can you grow towards someone when you don’t communicate. God communicates to us through the Word of God and through our day to day lives. We need to be spending some serious time in prayer and in reading the Bible.

First, I suggest getting a prayer book and write down prayer requests. Leave some space by the prayer request so that when time comes you can see (and write down) how God provided and answered for that prayer request.

Second, Get people in your life that you trust to send prayer requests to. I have a few people in my life that when life is getting hard or something is really tearing me apart, I send them a quick text to pray. It has helped incredibly in my walk with Christ.

In conclusion, You may have a once in a lifetime opportunity to talk to a famous person. Whoever that person would be for you. Just remember, that you have an opportunity to always have a deep and incredible communication through prayer to the God of the universe.

A Sheepish Mistake

Posted on by stevenlucht1

It seems like any social media page or television show has some stretch to whatever truth is out there. (Some more than others.)  Not too long ago, I opened Facebook and saw an article “How to Spot Fake News”. We all know fake news is all around us, but how do we truly know the truth? How can we find fact in a world surrounded with fantasy.

In the beginning of this spring, I was on a walk around a small lake I live near. On this walk I crossed paths with a very unexpected guest. I called him, Mr. sheepish. Yup! That’s right! I saw a sheep standing in the middle of the trail. It looked incredibly thin with mud and its own feces all over it. I couldn’t help but feel some compassion looking at it. As I walked close to the sheep it quickly jumped into the woods and started walking off. I kept walking for a while and decided that I needed to do something and help the guy out. So I quickly ran over to the sheep. While it tried running away, I grabbed the back of its neck. Trying to get Mr. Sheepish to go forward, he wouldn’t move… So, what would any good person do? I rolled up my sleeves and picked the sheep up and carried it to the nearest road. At the road, I thought of a better idea. The sheep kept wanting to get away from me so I took my belt off and made it into a quick leash. Long story short I tried calling for help with my phone, asked people that drove by for help to no avail. I was completely on my own with this sheep for well over an hour. Frustrated and annoyed, I had enough and left the sheep at the side of the road as I walked back to my vehicle and drove home.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but that sheep would teach me more than I thought when it came to truth and love.

So back to truth, what is truth?

If you don’t have a  Bible, I suggest you get it out and open to John 8:32. Based off this verse we know that this “truth” is freeing.  Let us dig even deeper into this amazing truth!

“Teach me your ways,
O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.”
~Psalms 86:11~

God’s Word is Truth! I always imagine the Bible as the most beautiful written love letter between God and us. When we get a love letter (or a letter of any sorts) from someone we admire, do we toss it aside after just reading it once? Maybe throw it in the trash or in the depths of a drawer that we’ll never see it again? OF COURSE NOT! We cherish the letter because it’s from someone we dearly care for. The same goes with the word of God. We ought to take care of the Word of God and often get into it as a beautifully written love letter to us.

In John 17:17 it reads, “Sanctify them in the truth: your word is truth.” The Word of God is the truth! If we truly desire to know truth and where truth comes from, we need to get into the scriptures.  The word “truth” is Alētheia which in Greek is described as a noun. Why is this important you ask? Well, I’ll be happy to explain. If “truth” was as adjective in this passage that would mean it is describing another ultimate truth, and God’s Word would not be the absolute truth. Since “truth” is a noun, it is the absolute truth.

Here is my challenge to us. Open your Bible back to John 8:31-32. We are to abide in God’s word. Meaning to heed or accept and uphold the Word of God. Is our lives showing that we are in obedience with the Bible? If not, are you truly God’s disciple?

“This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.”
~John Bunyan~

“A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone that isn’t”
~Charles Spurgeon~

Now I’m not advocating to tear and rip one’s Bible. However, you should be getting into God’s Word on a regular basis. Sunday morning at church is not enough time or effort when you are trying to pursue a personal relationship with God. It is an every day privilege. You cannot convince me you have a strong relationship with God and have dust on your bible. I can not stress enough the importance of getting into God’s Word!

How are you suppose to defend your faith if you don’t find the importance to reading the Bible. We need to stop making up our own faith in what’s right and wrong. The Bible speaks about the ultimate truth from God.

So, all this said, what do we do with this? When we are confronted, how are we suppose to respond?

The first way you could respond is in a sharp manor. The idea that “I’m right and your wrong!” It’s the same thing I did with the sheep. I tried to get the animal to safety and actually help it. That sheep wanted nothing to do with help. After a while, I just got upset with it and left. It wasn’t done in love. Yes, I understand we aren’t going to be going out and telling sheep about Jesus. However, just as the Bible says, we are all like sheep and have gone astray. (Isaiah 53:6)

The other way, and much better way, comes from Ephesians 4:15:

“Rather, speaking the truth in love,
we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”

 

Now, social media, television shows are going to stretch whatever truth is out there. In order for us to keep on the path for Christ, we need to get into the Word of God and seek the truth ourselves. Open God’s love letter today and read what He has to teach you.

Patience is a Virtue

Posted on by stevenlucht1

When I was little boy, I would sit at the top of the stairs, in complete anticipation. I waited for my dad to walk through the door when he was done with work. Before he came through the door, I would quickly put his slippers, aligned just right, on the stairs. All my dad had to do was slip right into the slippers and walk right up the stairs to greet me. He would pick me up with his large arms and always have the best greeting.  This was the best time of the day.

Waiting for my dad to get home was the hardest. I would keep looking out the window right around five o’clock to see if he had pulled in yet.

My family loves to go camping, and each year we would go camping at the same lake for years. As soon as we got there, I would ask my parents right away if we could get the boat in the water to do some water skiing or tubing. I would usually get the response to “just wait” or “be patient”. This didn’t really sit well with me.

As a young kid, I was always a “go, go, go” type person. Just ask my parents…. wait…. no, don’t ask them. Even so, I loved to explore and keep moving to the next fun activity or project.

…Our society lives off of this mentality…

We always want to create something to make our job go faster so we can work on the next project, and then have that go faster. It’s almost always about speed. Now don’t get me wrong, this can come with plenty of benefits, however, it can cause quite a strain in life too. We transfer this mentality into our daily lives.

“Be patient!” I don’t know about you, but I heard that plenty of times growing up. Patience, for the most part, does not come to us naturally. If you were to look up the word “patient” in the ESV bible, you would find 21 verses. The Bible expresses plenty of times on the importance of being patient.

  • Romans 8:25
  • II Corinthians 6:6
  • Galatians 5:22
  • Ephesians 4:1-2

Look them up! Don’t just skip reading the word of God. He teaches us that it is a good thing to wait. We may not see it, but it is!

How many times have you shown patience and good things come from it?  Almost always! Then, why don’t we actually practice this? We want what we desire ten minutes ago. We have no patience to wait for things in life. Whether it is with a relationship, a new job, moving or just that next step in life. We have a hard time waiting days, weeks, months, and sometimes even years until we know fully that good things will happen, if we wait.

I am currently seeing impatience ruin families, relationships, and ones relationship with God. We don’t like the idea that we have to wait, so we take our own initiative to rush our lives.

So then, what are we supposed to do when we wait? Isn’t it obvious? PRAY! God wants us to go to Him and express what is on our hearts.

God is trying to teach me right now to be patient. It hasn’t been easy. I have to pray that God gives me patience each day. If I don’t pray for patience, I end up over-thinking different areas of life and I tend to lose trust in God.

At the very beginning of each day, take and make time to spend at least five to ten minutes in prayer. Ask God for patience in specific areas of your life. Have people in your life that can encourage and strengthen you in being patient. Don’t fight your desires on your own.

Above all, focus on the One
who loves you beyond life itself.
He WILL bless you in being patient on His will.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Glasses of Hope

Posted on by stevenlucht1

If I don’t put on my glasses in the morning, I can’t see very far. The picture is unclear and the details are morphed together. As soon as my glasses are put on, the details pop out and everything is clear again.

Where is your focus? Have you put on your glasses today?

Obviously, I don’t mean the physical glasses. The spiritual glasses. The glasses that help you focus completely on Christ. It seems that those glasses are the hardest to keep on for us. We tend to take them off and stay focus on just what we can see right in front of us. We lose side of what’s just beyond.

In my own life, if I don’t focus on Christ, I start worrying about what’s going to happen next and if God is going to provide in the areas that are always on my mind. I tend not to open my bible and seek wisdom but to try and stay oblivious to what God’s plan is by focusing in what is right in front of me.

Dangerous, I know. As Christians, we tend to do this quite often. We tend to only focus on the now.  We get worried about things working out or if God is going to provide for us.

Last night God had given me a clear sign that I have not been focused on Him. That I had lost my spiritual glasses… What a night… A quote that I have really enjoyed is by Billy Graham:

The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me.’
~Billy Graham

 

Satan loves to use those moments for his advantage. When we get on our knees knowing that we are sinful and need our Savior’s comfort. It’s a beautiful bonding between us and God when we go to Him for help. Don’t let Satan come in and make you feel guilt and despair. These are not from God but from Satan himself.

Focus on the love of God. Focus on how much God cares about you.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

~Romans 8:37-39 (ESV)

Even though we may lose focus on God, worry like crazy, and fall into temptation, God will never cease loving us.

WHAT A RELIEF!

Like seriously, if this doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what will. God of the universe love you and cares so much about you that if you lose focus on Him and turn from Him, He will always take you back. He will wrap His arms around you and pour His love upon you. OH MAN!

So, what does this mean? How can we keep on the spiritual glasses of life?

It’s easier said than done. However, it’s fairly basic. Each morning I try and spend some time alone with God. Giving Him everything in my life from family, friendships, relationships, and my day to day walk. Open your bible and focus on how much God loves you. I’ve found that when I focus on God’s love and try applying that to showing others God’s love, my relationship with God only increases.

So, when you wake up tomorrow morning, remember to put on the spiritual glasses and focus on God. The hope and assurance that Christ is in control.

 

Where is Your Identity?

Posted on by stevenlucht1

As a Law Enforcement Officer, whenever I go up to a vehicle I first ask for the person’s license, registration, and then proof of insurance. Most of the time when I ask the driver where they are coming from it’s either going to work, or coming from work. They usually tell me where they work and that they are running late for some reason.

I was thinking about this for a while. Our Identity… Where do we put our identity. I’m going to go through each piece of paper that you would hand an officer and relate it to our relationship with God. It’ll be a little different than the actual paper, but for the past week this is what I believe God has been putting on my heart.

License:
What is our license? Well, it obviously tells us who we are. It gives a nice little picture that most people don’t like. Then if gives a few other pieces of information that explains more about us. Some of that other information includes where we live, height, weight, sex, color of eyes, color of hair and our date of birth. This tiny little card is packed with all kinds of information about us. It’s our identification…

Don’t you find it interesting when someone is asked to tell about themselves, one of the first things they start talking about is what job they have. We identify ourselves as what we do for a living and our families. When I was asked one time to describe myself, I never even mentioned that I am a born again believer. THAT SUPPOSE TO BE MY LIFE!!! I thought about it for a while and it struck me…

Why don’t we identify ourselves as a follower of Christ FIRST???

Now I know that some people are going to say, “Well, you don’t want the other person to feel uncomfortable or if they are not a Christian you might offend them.” Honestly? That’s a pretty pathetic excuse of denying Christ. I’ve had people tell me that it’s not that we deny Christ it’s just respectful not to throw it on them. I feel that is absolutely ridiculous. When we accept Christ into our lives we are asking God to come into our life and to lead us in our lives. That being said God shouldn’t just be our number one but our everything. He is our identity and what we need to live for.

“From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake be made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
~II Corinthians 5:16-21~

We are not our own. We are Christ’s. We were bought with a price. The verses explain that we are a new creation in Christ. Christ has made us righteous through himself. I strongly feel that if you are a believer this is something that should be in our daily walk and should be showing not only in our actions but in our words when we say that we are a child of God.

When we pull out our identity when asked it should
always include that we are a child of God
and a follower of Christ.

So, when asked, tell others who you really are through the blood of Christ. Tell others in a bold way that you are a follower of Christ. It’s your true identity.

Registration:
Another piece of information that I usually ask for is someone’s registration to their vehicle. The registration shows that you own that vehicle. Now, I’m going to change it up a little bit. Let’s look at this with the eyes of your registration to life. Who are you registered to? Where are you registered to?

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.”
~Philippians 3:20-4:1~

When I die I know that I am going to go to heaven. My registration is with God in heaven. When you accept Christ into your life, your registration or citizenship belongs in heaven with our amazing Savior! What a beautiful thought!!!

Proof of Insurance:
When I have pulled people over, so many people have either forgotten their insurance card or they actually don’t have insurance on their vehicle. The excuses of not having their insurance cards sometimes gets a bit ridiculous.

Now lets take a bit different look at this. Do you have proof that you have your citizenship in heaven? When other people see you do they see Christ within you? It’s an amazing challenge on my own life and how I walk in my day to day routine.

I have always enjoyed the analogy (I don’t quite remember where or who made this) that if we were to stand trial in front of  a judge and jury would we have enough evidence  to convict us of being a follower of Christ. Do you have that proof?

Honestly we shouldn’t have to pull out a card that shows that we have proof that we are a Christian. People should be able to see our walk and how we live our lives to know that we are followers of God and love God.

Eventually, some day we are going to go home to be with God. I want all my paperwork to show that I was living for God and that I truly made a point to serve Him and never be embarrassed to tell others that I am a follower of Christ. I want God to be able to see me in the end of my life and be proud of the way I lived. So, let’s start living our lives truly for Christ and actually be proclaiming that we are a child of God! Let’s stop sitting back and let other people do the work! It’s time we actually showed what it means to follow Christ, not just by our identification but also our actions.

God has this unfathomable love toward us. Let us be the ones to share this love toward others. Lets prove to others that God loves them through our actions. God’s love should be our motivation.

“For I am sure that neither death nor life,
nor angels nor  rulers,
nor things present nor things to come,
nor powers,
nor height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God
in Christ Jesus our Lord”~Romans 8:38-39