James 1:23-25 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Sadly I have heard these very words used by preachers to guilt people into action. If a church body appears to be inactive in the mind of the speaker, a sense of desperation can set into his speech. Let me point out I have not heard this lately, but in churches I have attended. Needless to say, I am no longer there.

One critical point is always overlooked during those sermons. The man turned away forgetting who he was, not who he is today. We turned from a life that wasn’t working for us. Pain and suffering usually comes from thinking about that old life, the old dead man. We as born again believers are a new creature. But who are we in Christ?

Identity is a strange thing. We often associate our identity with our profession or our relationships. I’m an engineer, a police officer, a nurse, a father, a wife. Those are things we do but are not who we are in Christ. James made the inference that your works show who you are but the subject at hand was faith, not identity.

We all start out as babes in Christ and we are expected to grow, mature, increase in grace, mercy and love. Who we are in Christ has more to do with our spiritual nourishment and exercise than it does in works. Faith will produce works, but how is one to know what to do if he/she does not know who they are in Christ?

Want to know who you are in Christ? Eat right and exercise.

Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Jesus made this comment right after challenging His disciples in what it would take to follow Him. I don’t know you but I never considered what it would cost me to follow Jesus. I was a lost soul and nothing I had mattered. It was never a consideration. I cannot recall one conversation with any of my brethren who said as much.

The sinner who is a bit of a scoffer on the other hand, they do talk about it. Their view of Christianity is more than a little skewed if they think we do not have fun, or that we live such a pious life that we have no sin. Silly rabbits, Tricks are for kids. But who is to blame for that false image of the church? I must admit that there is a vast array of opinions being cast about by social and public media.

Fear not, I am not about to ask you to take up a cause. What I would remind you however is what Jesus said about those who choose to follow Him.

Matthew 8:26 Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

How much does it cost to follow Jesus? Your fear, you will lose your fear.