TODAY’S SCRIPTURE Acts 26:19-32
In 1992, Gatorade aired its “Be Like Mike” commercials for the first time. Like me, many kids in the 1990s already wanted to be like Michael Jordan. I had this awesome jacket with a full color picture of Michael plastered on the back. This commercial capitalized on the yearning to imitate Mike by equating drinking Gatorade to being like him. And the “Be Like Mike” jingle is one you never forget if you saw those commercials.
The word Christian only appears 3 times in the New Testament. One of those times is in Acts 26. In his series of appeals that eventually lead him to Rome, Paul pleads his case before the Roman-appointed king of Jewish territory, Herod Agrippa II. Paul recounts his life story and conversion and then prods Agrippa to admit his belief. Agrippa then uses the word in our focus this week when he says, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” (Acts 11:28). Pay close attention to Paul’s response: “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am — except for these chains” (11:29). Paul boldly says to a powerfully political man, “I wish you would be just like me.” Why? Because he is a Christian. That is his identity.
Could you honestly say to your spouse, kids, coworkers, or neighbors, “I wish you would be just like me”? Is your identity so wrapped up in being a Christian that no doubt would exist in your mind in inviting others to imitate you? I wanted to “be like Mike” when I was a kid. As a Christian, I ought to demonstrate my identity in a way that I could say to others, “Be like me!”
Today, I will…examine my example before my family, coworkers, and neighbors to see if it lines up with my claim to be a Christian.