"Show Me Your ID," Ephesians 1: 3-14, Pastor Richard Strode
It is a routine part of living that we will be asked in some measure to prove our identity and ourselves to others. Sometimes this micro aggression takes the form of demanding extra forms of identity to cash a check, confirm ownership of car or home. When law enforcement demands your ID, it carries the additional, potentially fatal risk of brutality or loss of life. "Show Me Your ID" was a challenge Jesus faced from his family and fellow Israelites who failed to accept His divinity, in spite of, his miracles, teaching and resurrection. We can choose to either listen to what others think we are or believe who we are in Christ because His Word and the Holy Spirit confirms that we are in the Lord's family. We need to be reminded that being in the Lord's family has its benefits (Psalms 103: 1-5), because sometimes the struggles and troubles may cause us to overlook what the Lord continues to do for us because of His great love for us. Take comfort and confidence that being part of the divine family, we are blessed, chosen, adopted, redeemed, enjoy the Lord's grace and mercy, forgiven and given a new beginning--stamped with the Holy Spirit seal of approving our adoption into the family. When asked to prove your Christianity, ask them to look at the life you live in His Name.