Identify

identify (verb)
1. to know and say who someone is
2. to find out who someone is
3. to show who someone is
(according to Merriam-Webster's simple definition)

This is exactly what Christ calls us to do in Luke 9.23 "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."

We are so eager to identify with a sports team or a state or country...yet we mask our identity in Christ. We become undercover spies instead of unashamed saints. But Christ calls us to do the opposite. We are to identify with Him, regardless of the culture around us.


1. DENY YOURSELF
To deny is to disown. We are to disown ourselves, giving full ownership rights to God; we represent Him "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof" (Romans 13.14) This is a complete change in lifestyle. Denying oneself is an act of humility which is complete opposite to our prideful nature. This does not mean that we should think lowly of ourselves - after all, we were created by God and in the image of God (Genesis 1.27) - but rather to transfer our thoughts to Christ, instead.

If you remember, the first definition of "identify" is listed as "to know and say who someone is." When we disown ourselves, we have the privilege to know God. When we know God, we realize that we have nothing to offer if it isn't through what He has done in and through us, causing us to speak of Him and ridding us of our self-centered nature.

2. TAKE UP YOUR CROSS DAILY
As Jesus carried the cross that should have been ours, He identified Himself with us. The holy God who was big enough to create the heavens and earth and all within it made himself small enough to associate with lowly, sinful people like us (Philippians 2.7-8).

Christ tells us to take up our cross. Our cross is not just an illness, an unsaved spouse, financial trouble, or a stressful job; it is much more than that. We were not all called to die on a cross, but we are all called to be willing. To bear our cross is to simply be willing to pay any price for Christ, even if it means going completely against culture and "the norm." No two people's cross will be the same; the length and intensity will vary, but nonetheless, we are commanded to carry our cross, and carry it DAILY.

3. FOLLOW HIM
To truly identify with Christ, we must also pattern our lives after Him. We can carry our cross, but if we don't follow Christ, the cross becomes unbearable. He is our rest "for my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28).

We cannot come to God on our own terms and in our own time. If we are to serve Him, we are called to follow Him (John 12.26). There is no "grey area" where we can mesh God and the world. We can try to justify anti-Biblical laws as "social acceptance" and claiming to show "no respect of persons." But this is not God's plan. We either give Him all or He doesn't want us: "And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10.38).


In his book, Forward in the Face of Fear (set to release April 4, 2016), Edgar Feghaly tells of his life and ministry in Lebanon. He gives a good example of how a Christian should view his life, even in a society where identifying with Christ is far from fashionable:

"To me, carrying the cross daily had to do with my identity with Christ. Christ was not popular in His day; He reminded the disciples that He was hated by the world (John 15:18). So I determined not to worry about what the world thought but to be identified with my Saviour. And because I knew those around me were watching me and I realized my life could either be salt and light to show the glory of my Saviour or it could bring reproach to His name, I determined to have a good testimony before the world."

How well do you identify with Christ?