Before taking my car for its annual state inspection today, I looked in the glove box for the registration. They will not inspect the car without it and it wasn’t there. Thus began the search. I looked and looked throughout the car and house to no avail. Finally in desperation I looked in the glove box of the other car. It was there. Why? How did it get in the wrong car? Neither my wife nor I know. Actually at this point it doesn’t matter. What was important is I found it. It is important for it identifies that this very car belongs to me.
In Genesis God asked Abraham to circumcise his family and it was a sign that Abraham and his family belonged to Jehovah. It’s fascinating to make note of the various ways people use to declare their identity to a group. Some use tattoos. Some have special handshakes. Others have secret code words. The one that I like the very best in mentioned in Matthew 7. Jesus said, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” How do people know we belong to Jesus? The answer is by the way we behave.
Please note He didn’t say we should put a fish on the back of our car nor hang a cross from our neck. I am not condemning those who do that. It’s just that we should remember the real identifier. Be a good, honest, fair, decent person. I am not a card carrying Christian. I just want to help people and improve their lives. It is more than saying, “I’m praying for you.” It is actually doing something tangible to make life better. See James 2. He is great on this topic.
Written by Roger Bothwell on September 19, 2013
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org