Off The Cuff Christian

I was in the store yesterday and I noticed something odd. The guy in the isle over from me had a number shaved into the back of his head. I thought it was unusual because it was just the number 27.

For a minute I had to think of reasons why this guy had 27 shaved into his head. Was it his age? He was a portly fellow and I doubted he was younger than thirty. Was it a significant day or date? Doubted it. He didn’t strike me as someone who remembered specific dates. Then it hit me. He was wearing a football jersey with a large 27 on the back.

I have no cares toward any type of sports. It doesn’t make sense to me to cheer or support a team just because I live in a certain area, but so many people around the country are passionate about sports. This guy obviously identified with Raymond Rice, Number 27 for the Baltimore Ravens. Makes sense to me because I live fairly close to Baltimore, but why go as far as shaving a number onto your head?

Something I have gathered about people is a search for identity. I have noticed that many sports fans are desperate to see their team win. It gets to the point where they are actually depressed if their team loses. I think it is because they have a lack of identity in their own lives and use sports to gain a purpose for themselves.

Sorry sports fans. I have nothing against rallying behind your favorite team, but there are other things we should be finding our identities in. We do this with all kinds of things, not just sports. How about who you’re voting for? Your favorite reality T.V. Show? Or how about your job?

SO, WHAT DO YOU DO?

Everyone has been in introduced to someone new before. Anytime you meet a new person they are bound to ask, “So, what do you do?”. We always answer with our occupations. It seems to define who we are in our heads. We are mechanics. We are salesmen. We are in the military. We are teachers.

The list goes on and on, but most people don’t even like their jobs. Why would we identify ourselves so quickly with our jobs? I wish we could be more honest with people when they ask, “So, what do you do?”. I’m a couch potato. I’m a parent of four kids. I’m a sports fanatic. I’m a blog writer. I’m a follower of Christ.

I think it would be refreshing to honestly answer with that last one. Isn’t that how we should be defining ourselves, though? We are always followers of Christ before anything else. Our identities should be so wrapped up in his love that we immediately want to answer, “I spend my time trying to be more like Christ.”

CHILDREN OF GOD

John 1:12 

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

I’ll make my point brief. We put too many things before God in our lives. When we do that we start to have a lack of purpose. Every non-christian lives with a complete lack of purpose. That is why they hold tightly to their sports teams, idolize celebrities, and become obsessed with making money.

We don’t have to look far for true identity, though. Christ gives us purpose. Once we give our lives to him we can take on the mantle of being children of God. We aren’t what we do. We are not our local sports team. We do not need those things to lead a purposeful life. Our purpose is mapped out for us by Jesus Christ.

So, the next time you feel like your life lacks meaning, look to who you really are; A forgiven child of God. We all have a great purpose when we have Christ living in our hearts.