Remember Who You Are

The most memorable line in the musical “The Lion King” comes when the young lion Simba is uncertain and fearful of accepting his responsibilities, and the old king appears to his son and says, “Remember who you are.”

Parents often say the same to their children, especially when the children are going to be away from home, “Remember who you are,” and, if they are Christians, add, “And whose you are.” In those countries with a royal family there are certain rules and standards of protocol governing its behavior. Departures from those expectations are regarded more seriously than breaches of conduct by others. Even in our democratic society the families of public figures receive closer scrutiny than others.

The New Testament often calls on us to live as who we are in Christ, to be what we are said to be as Christians. Because we are a holy people (“holy nation”—1 Peter 2:9), we are to live lives of holiness: “Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct” (1 Peter 1:14-15—quotations are from the NRSV).

Because we are a chosen people (“chosen race”—1 Peter 2:9; “chosen ones”—Colossians 3:12), we are to live according to our calling in separation from worldly desires: “I beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1); “I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you” (2 Corinthians 6:16-17).

Because we are made one in Christ, we are to practice unity: “Making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).

“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are” (1 John 3:1). Because we are children of God we are to imitate the divine qualities of love and forgiveness: “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love” (Ephesians 5:1-2).

These and other similar passages say to us, “Remember who you are”; “Be what you are as a Christian”; and “Act according to your status.” The Christian life is a process of becoming what we are.

The evangelist Billy Sunday said, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.”

The eternal King says to us, “Remember who you are—a child of the King.”

Everett Ferguson

Got Any Alone Time?

Be Still and Know that I am God.   Psalm 46:10
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.  Psalm 37:7
Come near to God and He will come near to you.  James 4:7

Spending time alone with God is important. In our fast paced world it is becoming harder to set aside time to dive into the word of God and let it wash over us.  I talk to many who have trouble prioritizing their day in order to spend time alone with the Father.

This thought became evident recently when I invited my Mom to go shopping with me at a department store. We went up one aisle and then the other chatting casually along the way. After we left the store we stopped for some yogurt and then headed home. When we arrived at my house she said, “Thanks for inviting me along. It seems like I don’t get to visit with you much lately.”  I wondered about that statement as she drove off.  

My normal day is filled with work from 8am to 6pm, Monday through Friday. I am blessed to have my Mom volunteer one morning a week at my workplace. We see each other at worship service on Sunday morning and we are together in a small group Bible study on Sunday evenings. We see each other a minimum three times a week. Why would she say she hasn’t visited with me much lately?

I considered things from her point of view. I realize she watches me at work and observes my work ethic. She watches me interact with others on Sunday morning at the assembly and she frequently hears how things are going with my other activities. She participates with me in our small group Bible study. In each of these situations we are among a group of people, which is not the same as one-on-one time.

I believe our God has the same longing for each of us. He is happy that we are out serving Him and doing good things. He is happy that we work to support our family and that we give Him the glory in all we do. Yet, he yearns for us to sit down and spend time alone with Him.

The Holy Spirit tells us to slow down and invest ourselves in knowing the Lord. Do we listen?  Our God is near. Spend time with Him. If we’re too busy to spend time with God, we’re simply too busy.

Dear Father, I confess to you that I often put other things ahead of spending time alone with you. I am so blessed by your presence when I am still. Thank you for always being a whisper away. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Terry Smith
Stephenville, TX

Close to my Heart…..my trusted “prayer group” sisters!

About 40 some years ago I was a newcomer to Abilene, Texas, worshipping with my family of five at the University church of Christ.  My husband, Burl, was a newly-hired assistant track coach at ACU.

Our three children were early elementary and pre-school age.  Burl and I had both graduated from ACU, so we had acquaintances in Abilene, but were making many new friends.

I recall pretty vividly (for my going-on-77 year old mind!) the morning following worship in the church building auditorium when Carolyn Daniels approached me and asked me if I would like to be part of a ladies prayer group. My heart was thrilled and I immediately said “oh, yes!”  Our first meeting of eight ladies met  the following week for about an hour together.  I was only slightly acquainted with these women at the outset, but the Lord indeed brought together that day eight women of different talents, but with the kindred spirit of being in Christ!  Our combined children ranged in age from about 3 years old up into teenagers!

I share this because it is truly one of the greatest blessings of my life, and I’d love to challenge others who read and reflect on it to get your sisters together and commit to pray daily for each other, as we did those 40 years ago, and continue to meet each week up to this time! (Of course time has altered somewhat the make-up of our group.)   Our simple commitment was that we would pray for one another by name every day! This naturally would lead to praying for mates and children.

We all agreed on the ‘confidentiality’ of our commitment.  We could trust that what we discussed when we shared our needs went no further than our group, unless of course it concerned needs and events generally known by all our acquaintances, such as illnesses, family events, etc.

It is truly amazing that this group of dear friends have always honored the trust, without a single breach of our commitment.  When a Christian makes a ‘commitment’ of this kind, it should be taken very seriously, and has been, to our immense blessing!

Through the years we have lost Carolyn Daniels to cancer, and Earlene Speer, who passed on to her reward a few years after moving away from Abilene. Earline Perry’s huband, Lowell, was killed in a plane explosion during our first years together, and June Douglas, our preachers wife, left Abilene when she and Bob relocated to the west coast.  This left five of us, Jeanette Lipford, Smitty Brecheen, June Estes, Earline, and myself.  After a short time our dear friend, Kay McGlothlin joined in our prayer circle.  Burl and I eventually moved to the farm near Merkel and have since been members at the Merkel church, but I have continued to meet weekly with them.

Thru these years we have had many positive answers to prayers for our families, but also for many things we prayed about we had to be content with a “no” from the Lord.  Having the fellowship of discussion, Bible study, and prayer together helped strengthen us through all the occurrences in our lives thru these years.   Our grown children have been impacted by the knowledge that their moms have been praying together for them all their lives, and now for their children.  We get phone calls from grandchildren asking our prayer group to pray about significant (and some not so significant, too!) needs in their lives.  It is a huge blessing to us.  And, we trust, to them.

We realize one does not have to be involved in such a group to have strong, vibrant prayer lives.  But we have been strengthened and encouraged by this reliable, warm, “safe” group of friends in the Lord.  We have taken seriously the instruction to “confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another” found in James.  We have all found we are more consistent and constant in prayer because of this long-standing commitment.  As we age we anticipate the joy of crossing over into eternal life one by one and imagine the great reunion there in that “great cloud of witnesses.”

The familiar passage in Philippians 4:4-7 has grown so very comforting through all the stages of my life as a result of this prayer fellowship.  It reads “Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again I will say, ‘rejoice!’ Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  To an aging Christian woman it is wonderfully comforting to have the promise that God’s peace will guard my mind, as well as my ‘heart!’

Jan McCoy

Merkel, Texas

In Peace and Truth

Have you ever found yourself thinking thoughts of judgment when you encounter someone who worships at a different place than you do or has different religious views than you? I know I am guilty of this from time to time.  Its subconscious, I don’t even realize it, but I sometimes consider myself better, in some way, because I worship at the ‘Church of Christ’.  Now, before any one gets their feathers ruffled by my statements, hear me out.

My choice to worship at a particular address does not make me better than any one else.  I have made a choice where to worship, who to worship with and the beliefs in which I hold true based on fundamental teachings in the bible.  I boldly defend the points which I believe and know to be important to my salvation.  Scripture tells us to be cautious of those preaching false teachings and we should be on guard.  But that doesn’t give me the right to consider myself greater than someone else because of our differing views.  This should be even more reason to be humble, compassionate and SHOW Christ through action and peace.

Paul writes in Ephesians 2:11-22: "Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.  For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Christ died for ALL of us. Not just me. Not just you.  Throughout Paul’s writing about the reconciliation of the Gentiles with God through the sacrifice of Christ, he talks of peace.  Christ destroyed the barriers of hostility between the Jews and Gentiles and made access to the Father for ALL.  I must refrain from passing judgment on others different than myself and make it a point in my discussions to make statements of truth in peace and love. 1 Timothy 6:20-21 says, "Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith."

We do have to be on guard for false teachings or distortions of the truth.  It is easy in the P-C society we live in to avoid asking questions about the details of someone else’s faith, afraid we may step on toes.  It is important to engage in conversation with those we encounter about the TRUTH, the only truth in God’s written word.  However, because of the reconciliation talked about in Ephesians, we must do it in peace and not in a hostile or arrogant manner.  Certainly, someone should question my authenticity if I am not peaceful and humble in my convicted discussions about the WORD. 

I encourage you to be firm in your spiritual discussions with others while maintaining peace and resisting hostility.  The only way others will come to know Christ in the way his Father intends, is by us sharing the truth of the scripture in a way that is loving and compassionate, just like our Father is with us.

Father, please forgive me for failing to show others peace and humility in my encounters with them.  Please help me to be humble yet firm in my convictions when sharing your word.  Thank you for sending your son as the reconciliation for all people.  Thank you for your forgiveness, love and grace.In Jesus name, amen.

Michelle Tittor
Grapevine, TX