Romans 5:20-6:1a  “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  What shall we say, then?”

            In the margin of my Bible beside Romans 6:1, long ago I wrote a note, “Say ‘You’re God’s child, aren’t you!’ ”

            That note is an answer to the question Paul asked, “What shall we say?”  It is a reminder to me to identify with Jesus and try to have His nature.  How I behave, how I talk and act, shows how much of the nature of Jesus or mind of Christ that I have.

            In 1977, after a year of fostering, Douglas and I adopted siblings, four-year-old Sandi and three-year-old Darryl.  The following year, we moved from East Tennessee to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia because we wanted adventure and travel, as if keeping up with two young children were not enough! 

            Douglas worked for an oil company and we lived on the company compound.  I recall the day a lady in the commissary said to me, “Your son walks and talks just like his dad!”

            Of course, I loved it, because she didn’t know our situation but it was true.  They were like two peas in a pod!  During the previous three years, Darryl had trailed behind Douglas whenever he could, observing him, playing with him, and copying him.  He even wanted to dress like Douglas.

            What I am trying to say is that from this note in the margin of my Bible, I want to remember that there is so much scripture encouraging us to aim for having the nature of Jesus.  The only way to do that is to immerse ourselves in His Word, learn His actions and feelings, especially His compassion, and practice His touch.

            The remark made by the stranger prompted me to write the following poem.

WEARING THE NAME CHRISTIAN

We wear the name Christian, professing to be saints without canonization; inheritors without dying; children of God without divinity.

We recognize our own children by the name they wear; by physical traits they possess; by personal mannerisms they exhibit.

They have acquired these characteristics from proximity with the family; from daily conversations with the family;from examples set by the family.

Our names, traits, and mannerisms tell truthfully our own proximity to God; our daily conversations with God; our examples copied from God.

 

 Joyce Smith Broyles is a retired High School Librarian and lives in Jennings, LA.