if

son=identity

there's an untold advantage to reading two parts of the Bible at once. for instance, i've been reading through the old testament as well as doing a study in Matthew 5 and 7. as i read in the Beatitudes about the 'peacemakers' being called Sons of God, i was reminded of the several instances in the new testament where we are given that title. i also noticed that in the old testament, most of the people named were so by their own and their father's (e.g. David son of Jesse). this brought to mind the idea that men of those times were only fully identified when associated with their father. these two ideas spring to mind our identity being truly found in our relationship with Christ. this isn't just in the sense that we are created by God, as i used to think, but in our new purpose and life found when we submit to Him. we know that we are Sons of God, so we find out who we were meant to be in this relationship; our only identity is found when we're identified with God. a lot of people say they need to "find themselves" (however a terrible cliche that is) and search for that sense of identity in the world, in money, or in relationships. the good news that few ever hear is that they can find that in God. as Sons of God, we are who we were truly meant to be.

ps- check out 'identity' by LeCrae

taking time to be thankful

God, thank You for Your Love.

You give me all i need and so much more.

God, thank You for Your Grace.

i don't deserve a thing yet You give me everything.

God, thank You for Your Mercy.

the penalty for my actions is death yet You stay Your Wrath.

God, thank You for You.

i am less than dirt, yet You pursue me and allow me to do the same.

the disturbing savior

that's not the usual word that comes to mind when it comes to Jesus. you'd expect Jesus to be loving, caring, and so on, (which He of course is) but the disturbing and threatening nature of Jesus is often overlooked. not only was He a countercultural revolutionary who challenged the major religious authorities, He created a new reality that reverberated for the rest of history. Jesus said that He came "not to bring peace on earth, but a sword." this institution, this Salvation that He created also came with a side effect of separation between men. time and time again people have been rejected for their belief in Jesus, and even for the opposite action. just like the ubiquitous fish against the flow, those who follow Jesus are heading the other way, and when people are going in opposite directions, they are bound for collision. one prime example of this could be historian Jackson Spielvogel's (and other writers') contentions on the fall of Rome. i was somewhat surprised when i read in my history book that he thought Christianity was the reason for Rome's downfall, but as i kept reading, it began to make sense. the book stated that Rome, like the world itself, was built on principles completely different from those of Christianity. that, and the widespread conversion of Romans lead the the deterioration of an empire. these same differences are still present today. Christianity goes against the grain of the world in every way, and this agitates the norm. a lot of the time, we may feel like what we believe is too harsh or intolerant in some ways, but what we teach is not supposed to be easy to swallow. what we believe is the opposite of what the world thinks to be right. what i'm learning more and more is that when we try to teach someone who doesn't know Jesus, its only natural for them to reject it. this can even be characteristic of believers themselves who think that, because of Jesus' Love, He doesn't want people to change when they come to Him, as long as they have Faith in Him, which is a very faulty way of thinking. Christ made it possible to go the other way, and at the same time started the spark of constant collision.