October 11

Colossians 3
We tend to be very exclusive. We often get our identity from being exclusive. Take for example the phrase "I'm proud to be an American," or the phrase, "American by birth, Southern by the grace of God." Young people looking for an identity often attach themselves to certain sub-cultures. They might be Goths or Hip-Hop. When I was young, there were the "greasers" or "soc's". Woe to the one who was a "geek." Yet with the advent of the Napoleon movie, "Geeks" became cool. By narrowing or excluding others, we can better define our own identity.
However, with Christ, identity is not measured by whom or what we exclude; although, the unrighteous is excluded. Rather, identity is gained by our association with Christ. Christ receives us if we will come. What is unholy He excludes. But our identity is found in Him. He is all. He also abides in all who come to Him. It is not an identity found in exclusion but in inclusion, inclusion in Christ.
That goes against the natural grain. We get our identity by exclusion because it means that in some respect our measure of exclusion makes us better than those we exclude. So, we feel better about ourselves. But it is not so with Christ and our identity. So, if we include all others, how do we recognize who we are?
The magnificence and infinitude of Christ is such that the identity of each one of His billions of children can be unique yet come from Him. He indeed is all. The more I understand His infinitude, the more I can grasp my identity from being united with Him rather than from excluding others. I am who I am because He is who He is. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John