Today's thought:
Colossians 3:9-11, "Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all."
You probably know Ted Giannoulas even if you've never heard his name. He has been the San Diego Chicken for 30 years. But Ted is getting older. At age 50, being the Chicken has been his life and his whole identity. His face is never photographed unless he is in costume. No one knows the real Ted. He has no family.
At first, he loved his alter ego. "I discovered an untapped personality in that suit," he said. "It was like, now I have freedom. Now I'm no longer Ted."
But there is a price to pay. Dave Raymond, who for years wore the costume of the Philly Phanatic, said, "[Giannoulas] was the first and the funniest, and I have nothing but respect for him. But if you're not careful, you can lose yourself in that suit."
Ted himself says, "I have plenty of Chicken stories. I'm afraid I don't have any Ted stories." ["Chicken's Salad Days Over", Chicago Tribune, (8-26-02), (Sports Section)]
Many people live life being someone God didn't create them to be. They lose themselves in other things instead of finding their identity in Christ.
Do you remember the "WWJD" (What Would Jesus Do) craze? There were bracelets and amulets and t-shirts. Youth Ministers got a "WWJD" fever. Though today most Christians see the phrase as a cliche, there is a reason for its almost universal acceptance. At the heart of the sentiment lies a deep truth of the Christian endeavor. We are to put on Christ and be like him. The you that you were before Christ is dead. You were born into a new life, the life of Christ. As Paul says in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
What suit are you wearing? What role have you clothed yourself with? It will define your identity. Galatians 3:26-27, "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."
Put on Christ, be clothed in him and let His identity become your own. This is who God created you to be.
Prayer: Our Father, it is easy to forget who we are, who you created us to be. We get lost in the wrong identity and forget it is no longer we who live but Christ who lives in us. Help us to put on Christ today, to take his nature and character on ourselves and become part of the Divine personality. We love you and find our fulfillment in You. In Jesus name, amen.