Unfortunately, in our society today, we are too familiar with the term "identity theft". This crime is one where the thief doesn't even break into your house or steal directly from your property, but instead this criminal act involves someone taking over your private identity information to extrude a person's finances. When this act takes place, it can lead to weeks, months, and even years of laborious headaches trying to gain back financial security both online and in person. I'm not here to warn you of all the cons and scams that identity theft criminals use to exploit innocent victims; no today is more about the identity theft that is more generational and much more of an in-house action. This identity theft is one that can do more damage to the perpetrator than the owner if we aren't cautious and mindful that our "identity" is priceless for those we love and care about.
So, what exactly am I referring to you ask? Well, your identity for our purposes today would be more of a character identity. You may have heard, or said it yourself, the old saying "Do what I say, not what I do" as a means of parenting without ownership of our very own hiccups and hang-ups. Good luck with that one. You can say whatever you want to say, but at the end of the day, your actions will speak much louder than your words. In other words, you can say what you want to say, but at the end of the day it's going to be more "monkey see, monkey do" than any empty directives we might spout to those we influence in our lives. In most situations this may primarily be your children, but please don't think you are off the hook after you leave the house in the morning. I often comment that we are all leaders of someone whether it is family, work, or play and whether we like it or not they are all watching us and how we handle life. From there, subtly in most cases, those we influence tend to take on our tendencies, our decision-making processes, and even our lifestyle choices to shape who they are and what is of importance to them. Your responsibility in this "identity theft" is to assure that what is being "stolen" is what you want those you love to carry on with them into life after you are not the primary influence.
How is this accomplished? Well left to our own devices it may be pretty tough, but we are fortunate to have a model to follow. In Romans 12:2 Paul admonishes us to "... not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discover what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and perfect. Conforming to this world is a pretty sure way to not provide a quality identity for those we influence. Better than conforming is to be transformed into a better model of what God really wants us to be. But, how does this transformation take place? I don't have all the answers for you today, but here are some good starting points to creating an identity worth being stolen, or better yet, shared.
1. Spend time with your Creator. Before the day gets busy make it a point to spend some time with God. Read His word, do a daily devotional, worship through music, and talk to Him through prayer. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105.
2. Don't just say you are a follower of Christ, live like you are a follower of Christ. None of us are righteous like Jesus, but we can make efforts to be more like him each day that we live and breathe. "The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked." I John 2:6
3. We all make mistakes, we all fall down, we all sin. The important thing is to not set yourself up as incapable of making mistakes. The key is to accept that you are human, thus you will mess up, but realize that you have a God that loves you in spite of your mistakes, and He will forgive us if we ask for forgiveness. "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23
4. Finally, seek Him. You don't have all the answers, I sure don't have all the answers, but He who holds all the answers to all the questions is faithful and will see us through regardless of the situation. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. " Matthew 7:7-8.
This isn't four steps to perfection, but it is a start to creating an identity that you will be proud to have stolen by those you love and for those you influence each day whether it is at home, work, or play. Let's make 2022 the year that identity theft takes on a whole new meaning.
Coach Carter
No comments:
Post a Comment