Church Family,

It is so wonderful to be back!  Once again, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all for making pastoral health and well-being a priority.  I am trusting that God will honor and bless this posture of love and stewardship.

I was frustrated, however, to return to my office and almost immediately receive word that some scammer was trying to use my identity for nefarious purposes.  Over the past years, I have lost count of the number of times I have received some sort of message asking me if I had requested a person to purchase a gift card and then message them the numbers of the specific cards.  (As I mentioned Sunday, this is something I would NEVER do, so beware.)

It is quite unnerving to realize that you are being misrepresented. It certainly angers me every time I realize that someone has attempted to exploit the reputation that I have long labored to develop. 

As I brought this frustration to the Lord in my prayer time, the tables quickly got turned. I began to consider the many times my actions and behavior have presented a very different identity than that of a redeemed child of God.  As one called to “bear the image of Christ” and share His love to the world, I wonder how often I present an identity far different from the one Christ purchased for me by shedding His blood.

I also began to consider the messages that the evil one has attempted to project on the church in our age.  These come in the form of new doctrines that go against the word of God.  They may be pleasing to itching ears and appeal to the carnal man, but they lead to shipwrecked faith.

This strategy is not a new one but will be a mark of life in these last days. 

2 Tim 3:1-6

1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3  heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.   -ESV

The wonderful news is that we do have a new identity in Christ.  It is one that allows us to not only shine the light of God’s love to others, but also allows us to persevere and overcome whatever situations we encounter. 

May we all be mindful of the new identity that we have in Christ.

Loving you all,

Michael