Remembering Our Identity
The story goes something like this. “Two old friends found themselves sitting on the front porch one day. The one man said to the other, ‘I’m sorry, can you remind me of your name.’ The other responded, ‘Can I get back to you later on that?’”
Our forgetfulness may not have reached that point, but we all can relate to the feeling of forgetfulness. There are too many things that daily “slip our mind.” At the beginning of this ministry year, we began focusing on the theme of “For the Sake of Others” based upon Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23:
19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
We began reflecting upon the questions, “In joyful response to the Gospel, how are we… 1) welcoming the guest? 2) …challenging the connected? 3) …serving our community?
Indeed, God has blessed us both individually and collectively with the gifts of his grace. We ourselves have received the very blessing of Jesus Christ who became like us to redeem the likes of us. He voluntarily chose to draw near to us so that we might draw near to him.
Today, we remember our identity as those who have been washed in the forgiving waters of baptism and been called forth as new creations in the grace of Jesus Christ. Today, we remember the cost Jesus paid that we might share with him the very blessings of the gospel. It is only when we stand in light of this amazing gift that we are able to reflect even a small portion of such unlimited love, such overwhelming grace. It is only as we come again and again to remember who we truly are in Jesus that we can begin to understand Paul’s motivation in these words. Paul does not serve to get, but to give. He does not care to receive. He simply prays that others may receive the very care of Christ.
May God so firmly ground us today in His grace, so that we can become channels of His love. May the love of God go with you this day and everyday in the promises that are ours in Christ alone.
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands…” (Isaiah 49:15-16)
God’s Peace, Pastor Kurt Ebert
