Listening to a song going to work on the radio I heard the lyrics say, “Playing on the Church Softball team and everything was going good until a bad call from the umpire.  It took the preacher to break up the fight that followed.”  What good is church if we do not live out the life that we are taught each Sunday during church?  I don’t think it’s the “Bride of Christ’s” fault.  It is ours and it is our free will that gets in our way of the life He wants all of us to lead.

Who are you?  Is that a hard question to answer?  But, I am serious who are you?  Do you let other people define you?  Are you the life of the party; the geek, the hothead, the jock, the ladies man.  Are you the person that defines himself depending on the way he feels at the time you are asked the question?  If you are one of these people you are letting down yourself and God. 

I heard a young person say that they defined themselves as a follower of Christ.  Wow, that is how we need to define ourselves – In Christ. 

We need people who will help us bridge the gap between who we project we are on the outside and who we feel we are on the inside. 

“A true friend will stab you in the front” Oscar Wilde.  

My friends keep me honest to myself and to them.  I think about doing things before I do them because I would not want to disappoint them.  You measure yourself by the people who measure themselves by you.   Carter Chambers, The Bucket List

I know what is wrong with me. I want to define myself as a follower of Yeshua’ or Christ.  I want the Holy Spirit to descend on me like fire.  I want that Spirit to take my wants and desires and shield my free will to be the will of Jesus.  I pray for God to take away me selfish nature every day.  To let me open my hands and heart to His will.  I am reminded of John Wesley’s Covenant prayer.  Pray this prayer and make your covenant…

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven 
Amen

Are you willing to say I want to be defined by others in Christ?  Will you make a covenant with God today by asking him to come into your life?  Will you find friends that will support you with your covenant?

- Steve Rusk

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