Can I See Some Identification?

I apologize if I have stated this fact too many times before, but I studied psychology in college. I have always been fascinated with the mind and how we relate to each other. Some of the most interesting things I learned about were defense mechanisms. When anxiety becomes too overwhelming, we often distort reality or block it out entirely. One of these mechanisms that I have found myself to exhibit in my life as a Christian is identification. Identification is when an individual unconsciously models himself or herself after the character or behavior of another. An individual practicing identification often attaches him or her self to a group and shuns those exhibiting characteristics outside of the group. This maintains one’s ego while promoting self-importance. Particularly in high school, I was very rough on people who didn’t have the exact same beliefs as myself. I boasted about being a Christian and spent a lot of time looking down on my peers. I wanted more people to learn about Jesus, but I wanted them to do it on my terms.
I believe that God chose Paul for some very specific reasons. Paul had lived on the other side of the tracks. He persecuted Christians and did everything in his power in an attempt to blot out their existence. Paul was blinded by God’s glory and had his life completely turned around when he encountered God on the road to Damascus. Paul knew what it was to identify with those who hate God and want nothing to do with him. I believe this definitely assisted Paul’s effectiveness as a missionary. He didn’t seek to exclude others. He didn’t want to persecute those outside the church. Paul wanted to welcome them with open arms. The apostles were profoundly affected by their encounter with Jesus. They left their careers, their families, and their past behind to spread the gospel of Christ. In Acts 10, we find the story of Cornelius, a Roman centurion who is one of the first Gentiles to give his life to Christ. When we consciously identify with and attempt to fully emulate Christ, we can bring even the least likely individuals to encounter Christ. We are the instruments of God, His hands and feet.

It's Making Me Wait

One of my worst enemies, as of late, is anticipation. Whether what I am waiting for is exciting or dreadful, the waiting eats away at my very being. If I know that I am to receive a package by mail, I can’t rest until it has arrived. I have to obtain tracking numbers and program them in to my computer for constant updates. More acceptably, I suppose, is when I have to take a big test. Eventually, I plan to complete the Graduate Record Examination so that I may complete further education. I fear this day to the point that my stomach aches. These types of feeling distract me from my daily responsibilities.
Most ridiculous is my eagerness to urge to attend a screening of the upcoming film entitled ‘Cloverfield’. ‘Cloverfield’ is a product of director JJ Abrams, creator of popular and endlessly confusing television show ‘Lost’. ‘Cloverfield’ is the account of a group of friends, all in their twenties, who witness and become involved in an attack on New York by a giant monster and its smaller underlings. “So you’re excited about a Godzilla rip off?” is what you might be thinking right now. Well, the catch is that the movie’s monster has yet to be revealed to the public. Other than a blessed few, no one has seen the ‘Cloverfield’ monster. Add to this a cryptic viral marketing campaign, and you have millions of people salivating with expectancy.
I can’t even begin to imagine how much the Jewish people anticipated the coming of Jesus. Oppressed by the Romans and living more as slaves than as free men, the Jews were looking for a leader who would end this way of life. Jesus shows faithfulness to his ministry as well as God’s endorsement of him in Luke 3:21-22. In this instance, Jesus simultaneously supports the act of baptism and makes his presence as the Son of God official. After 2000 years of study, we often fail to value what Jesus’ presence on the Earth means to us today. We need to anticipate God’s gift of salvation through Christ.

Eye Witness Testimony

In a court of law, hearsay is immediately thrown out. For a case to proceed, the court needs to hear the accounts of eyewitnesses. Witnesses play an essential role in bringing justice to a criminal case. A witness must comply with a subpoena, also known as a summons. This is a court order for a witness to appear and testify in a criminal case. One can be arrested for ignoring a summons. A witness must remember the details of the event in question including conversations, persons present, times, distances, and other information relevant to the criminal case. One’s testimony mustn’t contradict itself or the truth itself.
Acts 26:16 states that we are appointed to be servants and witnesses of what we have seen and heard. Our world tells us to look out for ourselves. It might sound odd to some that God, the all-powerful creator of the universe, wants servants. Many would interpret this as egomania. However, our role as servants and as witnesses is for our own renewal and benefit. When we are God’s witnesses, we avoid our selfishness and don’t follow our own will. The emptiness and lack of direction that many of us face is replaced with God’s infinite understanding and compassion. We in turn offer these gifts to others.
Anna and Simeon, two individuals “advanced in age” were two of the first people mentioned to witness the human incarnation of Jesus Christ (Luke 2:22-40). Jesus’ parents, as law-abiding Jews, show up at the temple to perform sacrifices associated with the wife’s purification. Simeon, a righteous and devout man, delivers a prophecy regarding Jesus’ future. Jesus is said to be the light for revelation, offering salvation to mankind. He is also said to cause the “falling and rising of many in Israel.” As witnesses to Christ’s glory ourselves, we must present a life changing truth to mankind.