As a young boy, we reared ducks and chickens. Overtime, I realized that the eggs of the ducks were usually bigger than that of the chickens. So one day I said to myself, ‘if I could take some of the duck eggs and replace them with hen eggs during incubation, the hens would hatch bigger chicks (since the duck eggs were bigger)’. So I went ahead with my idea and swapped the hen’s eggs with that of a duck, while hoping my dad wouldn’t detect my experiment.
The eggs were hatched after a few weeks. I was expecting to see some giant chicks but alas, I saw small ducklings. I became confused; I thought to myself – ‘but this hen sat on these eggs all along, how come it hatched ducklings?’ But because I did not want anyone to know that I was experimenting with the poultry, I could not voice out my confusion. However, as I was reading my bible some years later, that experiment came alive to me again and it helped me understand our identity in Christ.
What made the difference in those ducklings’ lives was not the source of the heat that hatched the eggs but the source of the seed that brought them forth. The sperm/egg came from a duck. Wow! That reminds of I Peter 1:23 “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God...” So how do you think this affects your new life in Christ?
The identity of those ducklings was not misplaced because they were hatched by a hen; I never called them chicks. Their origin affected their identity. No wonder the bible called us gods (Psalm 82:6), because we proceeded from Him. 1Cor. 15:47-48 sheds more light on this: “The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.”
Those ducklings never behaved like chickens; they could swim even though the hen could not dare do that. Likewise, we should make it a priority to ensure that all our lives activity is aligned with our identity. We should be found doing miraculous things unbelievers cannot dare to do. We should also not be found messing around with sin. I John 3:9 (MSG) says “People conceived and brought into life by God don’t make a practice of sin. How could they?God’s seed is deep within them, making them who they are. It’s not in the nature of the God-begotten to practice and parade sin.” Hallelujah!
To be continued …
– tope aladenusi
I could still remember in my final year when I quarreled with my friend over this issue. He sees his uncle as his role model, while I opted for a world renowned genius. While I berated his choice, he argued that I needed to know my role model’s belief and background before making such a choice the choice.
Years after, now born-again, I have seen reasons with this my friend. We tend to look unto people because of what they have achieved in the society without deep search into who they are.
Some of these people whom we see as great men had denied, blasphemed against the name of God, while others had made repentant confessions at their death beds, unknown to you. Others died; gnashing their teeth in regret of unbelieving life lived.
Consider this statement that culminated into failure:
“Not even God can sink this mighty ship” William Pirrie, President of Harland and Wolff, the company that constructed the Titanic, boasted, days before Titanic embarked on her fateful maiden voyage.
Compare it with this testimony of success:
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”
Paul, II Timothy 4:7.
Now, I have to come to understand and have acknowledged my role model as Him who:
“hath borne our grief, and carried our sorrows…was wounded for our transgressions… was bruised for our iniquities…bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:4-12.
The King who left all His riches and was made poor for the sake of accomplishing the work of salvation; the only One that bags 100% success is my role model. Who is yours?
– justoc okenna igbokwe
Do you want to spoil a birthday party? Scream aloud “How many people are Saints here?” Music stops and were you to see the chaos you caused in the minds of those gathered you would wish for time to travel back.
But this tag which others have found so difficult to identify with is Paul’s opening address in a great deal of his letters even to a church as the Corinthian church. This lends credence to the fact that we ought to identify with the Word of God and not in the supposed meekness of our imagination.
1st Corinthians 1:1 bear record of Paul’s address under inspiration of the Holy Ghost. He addressed Ephesians (Eph. 1:1 – 2), Colossians (Col. 1:2), Philippians (Phil. 1:1), Corinthians (1st Cor. 1:1 – 2), Romans (Rom 1:7), as Saints. And it is really nothing to be amazed about because anyone born again is a Saint. 1st Corinthians 1:2 … ‘Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours’
This is because the man born gain has passed from death to life, from light to darkness. Once we were darkness but now are we children of light. The very core of our being radiates the very light of God.
Even the Corinthian church with their track record were reminded that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of God’s Spirit had washed them and made them holy and acceptable to God.
The exception to a saintly behavior should not becloud our vision or be taken as the norm outside the rule of God.
I personally loved to make various animal calls delighting in the puzzled looks of my puppy and the chickens. One of the animal calls I made with such ease was that of a cock crowing. So easily those unknowing cocks responded to one they thought was a brother in companion. But in spite of this “gifting” I did not deny my humanity. I didn’t suddenly view myself as a cock in the midst of chickens or humans alike.
So also you are; in spite of your shortcomings, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a HOLY NATION, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. No wonder Hebrews 3 and verse 1 says “wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;”
1st John 4:17b says “…as God is so are we upon the face of the earth”.
Principles from scriptures says it is from this view we should act and not the other way round i.e. not a sinner who should celebrate every good He does in Christ as some rare feat rather as a Saint who when He is told to bask a little in what he has done would hastily reply “what else did you expect?”
Finally let us remind ourselves of an admonition in Ephesians chapter 5 and verse 3. He said “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;” Consider verse 3 –He said fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named amongst you as becometh saints. Simply because you are a SAINT. Don’t let anyone mislead you into some false humility. This is who you are in Christ Jesus.
– Dr bolaji akanni
