Courting Christ: Wear His Ring Part 2

Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 10:32-33

Yesterday, we considered the fact that, as well intentioned as we may be in our attempts to identify ourselves with Christ, He has very definite ideas on how He would like that to take place. Outward identification is insufficient. We need to imitate His very thought processes – His attitudes and feelings. Allow me to give you twenty ways that you can identify yourself with Christ by imitating Him. I take these from Philippians 2:1-18

• Pursue a unity of mind with fellow believers rather than the pursuit of your personal goals and perceived needs. v.2
• Seek to develop a unity of affection. Love the same things. Love serving others. Love praising and worshipping the Master. v.2
• Maintain a unity of spirit. God is a spirit and as such must be worshipped in spirit and in truth[1]. Make sure you are attending church for the right reason. The pastor is not the performer and you are not the audience. All the gathered Christians are performers and God is the audience. v.2
• Develop a unity of purpose that is biblically based rather than based on the latest polls of the biggest mega churches in America. v.2
• Develop selflessness. v.3
• Maintain a humble spirit. v.3
• Be able to set aside your rights. v.6-7
• Be willing to serve others with your God-given talents, time and resources. v.7
• Cross cultural barriers in order to better serve others. v.7
• Be absolutely, uncompromisingly and unapologetically obedient to the will of God. v.8
• Discipline yourself to set aside your life for Him and others. v.8
• Teach yourself to graciously accept appropriate praise and authority v.9-11
• Renew your dedication to the discipleship process. v.12
• Rely upon God rather than your own good works. v.13
• Have good attitudes as you go about your daily work, ministry and family time. v.14
• Dedicate yourself to purity and blamelessness. v.15
• Be absolutely dedicated to the Word. v.16
• Keep focused on your purpose – the glorification of Jesus Christ. v.16
• Let your service be characterized by joy. v.17-18
• And be willing to share that joy with others. v.18

Doing these things will clearly identify you as one of His. Like a new bride caught up in the throes of young passionate love, you will be proudly displaying His ring to everyone near you.



[1] John 4:24