The Ultimate Passport

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:1-9, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
As Kate and I were preparing to get married back in 2010, we discussed spending our honeymoon at a whole host of places. Eventually, we settled on taking a cruise with Royal Caribbean with stops in Mexico and Honduras. As we were preparing for our honeymoon, I realized that I needed to obtain a very important document, a document that served as an official sign of my identity: a passport. 

A passport is a much-coveted item. It opens doors, provides protections, and gives rights and privileges to its citizen-owners. It tells border guards who we are, where we’re from, and where we’ve been. It’s our identity. 

Or is it? 

In his epistles, Paul frequently reminds his readers of their true identities. They may be Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, Scottish, Brazilian or American; but first and foremost, they—we!—are the church of God, those “sanctified in Christ Jesus,” “called to be holy people.” This stamp of our true identity cannot be captured in a passport. The call of God in Jesus Christ is the ultimate naturalization process: It lifts us beyond earthly borders, human politics, anything and everything that labels us in a limited, reductionist manner. God’s call gave Paul his identity and mission as an apostle of Jesus Christ. God’s call on the mixed-up, motley Corinthians gave them a self-understanding that far superseded their geography or nationality. 

To follow Jesus Christ, to respond to his call, and to stamp this in our awareness through our baptisms is our ultimate passport. We are Christ-followers first, citizens of the kingdom of God. Jesus defines us—telling us both who and whose we are. He binds us together with brothers and sisters in every time and every place. This challenges all nationalism and prejudice, racism, classism, and denominationalism. Our eternal identity strips away all earthly labels. 


PRAYER:
Lord, lift up our eyes to see the riches of our true identity in Jesus Christ. When we’re tempted to label ourselves and others in earthly categories, show us our unity in Christ. Amen.


WHO AM I?
I am Tres Sansom, and I had a blast on our cruise. Kate and I settled on taking a cruise because we read that cruises are, by and large, the most accessible vacation option. The Royal Caribbean ship we were on was incredibly accessible; not only that, it was packed with a variety of things to do. Kate and I had a great time together, and often daydream about taking another cruise. Only this time we'd like to bring along our family or some good friends.