Newness of Life Identifying With Christ.

  Do you have your identification on you?  In this world you have to have it.  Paying for merchandise at the mall?  The clerk will usually ask for it.  Driving to a game or on a Sunday drive?  You better have it with you.  Looking to get an official document?  You will need it close at hand.
  Even more importantly, those who have placed their trust in Jesus, should definitely be ready to readily show their identification in what matters most in newness of life.  Early followers of Christ, under constant threat of persecution, developed a simple yet powerfully effective way of letting others know they were believers.  In writing the Greek word for "fish", the letters written out did three distinctive things:
Firstly, the letters formed an acrostic (a clever form of writing in which each letter of the word or phrase corresponds to a word or idea).  In this case, the letters indicated "Jesus Christ, God, Son, Savior.".  Each of those names and titles helped them and us to identify with who He is and the implications of belief. 
Secondly, when the word was written out, with the way the Greek letters stand  beside each other, as a curved line is drawn around them and crossed over at the end, a symbol is formed in the shape of a fish.  This was important too, in that the early followers came to know the symbol of significance without the writing of the words that could endanger them day to day in a world with the persecution of believers incredibly real.
  Thirdly, the association with the symbol of a fish and sharing the Good News of the Gospel, was evident in the LORD'S teaching that the early believers and us too should become "fishers of men."

"And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.  Then He said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.' They immediately left their nets and followed Him." - Matthew 4:19-20

  Identifying with Christ will bring some changes, and some of them will be obviously immediate.  Peter and Andrew layed down their nets.  By the way, they and James and John (two other disciples who left their nets), were giving up essentially their livelihoods, their careers (and profitable ones, as their fishing business included hired workers).  Later, we see in history that it ultimately would cost them their very lives.  So it may be with all who follow Him - we all are called to give up some things, and actually everything.  He says that without Him we can really do nothing and that He is our all-in-all.
  We can cling to His precious promises as we walk in newness of life, even in giving up things and in being persecuted, which is also inevitable in the life of a believer (2 Timothy 3:12 - "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.").

  Make the Gospel your ongoing life-study and purposefully tell others. 

C.J. Mahaney writes, "To grow in your passion for what Jesus has done, increase your understanding of what He has done.  Never be content with your current grasp of the Gospel.  The Gospel is life-permeating, world-altering, universe-changing truth.  It has more facets than any diamond.  Its depths man will never exhaust."

  More than a great man.  More than a great teacher.  Share what He has done because:
Of His love for you.
Of your love for Him.
Of your love for others.

A prayer:
  Father, please give me courage and boldness to lay aside anything that hinders me from sharing the good news of Your Son.  Please give me natural opportunities today to do so.  I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.