A couple of years ago "Joe Canadian" captured the heart cry of many Canadians for a national identity.  His rant declared, "I am Canadian."  I enjoyed his rant.  And I learned an important lesson.  The distinctive elements of our identity need to be declared.  I think every follower of Jesus may need a rant.  A declaration of their identity in Christ.  I think a rant is more for ourselves than for anyone else.  Though, it is beneficial for others to listen in.  While listening in on the rant of others I learn something about them, about myself, and even about God.  Now into the third week of the series of messages entitled, "Shaping the Way we live," God pressed me on this issue of identity in Christ as a central shaper of our lives as followers of Jesus.  No longer am I primarily defined by my sin, failure, and shame, or even by my birth into the kingdom of darkness.  Rather now in Christ I am primarily defined by the merits of Jesus Christ.  The kingdom of darkness seeks to overwhelm my new birth into the Kingdom of God by drowning out grace and devaluing Jesus.  I believe every follower of Jesus may need a rant, not a shrill self-congratulatory condemnation of the darkness, but rather a solid declaration appraising their standing with God through Christ.  Our identity as dearly loved children is good place to start.  Paul writes, "Be kind and compassion to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."  Ephesians 4:32-5:2  I encourage you to write your own rant, and submit it as a comment.  I would love to collect these as a testimony of God’s grace.  Below is my rant.

I am a son of God.

I am His child

bought with a price.

The price? you ask.

The very life-blood of Jesus

freely given, terrifyingly costly and

totally able to satisfy the justice of God.

I am precious to Him.

This is grace–

the enduring loyalty of Jesus

to His Heavenly Father has

secured my place

at His

table.

I am His child.

I am a son of God.