FAITH CAPSULE: What is your identity as a Christian? 

Acts 19

Christianity is not about what one is against.
Christianity should be communicating what one stands for.
The Bible recorded the story of itinerant Jewish exorcists who wanted to conduct what they did not carry inside of them. 
The Jewish exorcists, who witnessed miracles from God conducted through Apostle Paul, attempted to do themselves like Paul. 
Acts 19:13 records, “Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 
Interestingly, the evil spirit could not identify them in the conduct of Paul. The evil spirit responded to the Jewish exorcists, “…Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” (Acts 19:15-16) The conduct of itinerant Jewish exorcists does not line with the kind of conduct that carries the power of God. 
As an acclaimed believer, how are you conducting your life? 
Are you answering to what is not your conduct?
As believers in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, your conduct should serve as communication with your neighbors, as a weapon against confronting challenges.
Also, Christianity is not about what one is against but should communicate what you stand for. 
As a believer, you make too much noise in communicating what Christians are against and less noise in communicating what Christians stand for. Also, your conduct is not loud enough for an unbeliever to see Christ in you. 
If, for example, at your workplace, there is a call for the persecution of believers in Christ, would you be identified as one who confesses Jesus? Do you think your conduct as a follower of Christ will be enough for your fellow workers to identify you, or will there be no evidence for anyone to identify you as a Christian? 
Think, are you a hidden cross-carrier? 
Some kinds of religious one can easily identified by their dress, haircut, or jewelry. 
What is it that will identify you as a Christ follower? 
Paul the Apostle certainly could not live in your neighborhood without being recognized as a believer. 
Even if he chose to be silent, his conduct would identify him. 
How do you conduct yourself? 
2 Corinthians 1:12 says, “For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.” 
It is time to quit hiding by being silent when claiming to be a Christian. The conduct of a believer should not keep observers guessing whether you are a Christian or not. 

Prayer for today: Ask God to help you so that your conduct will always bring out the message of the Gospel.