Stolen Identity?

 

God's Fingerprint

"Religion: My identity is built on being a good person.

Gospel: My identity is not built on my record or my performance, but on Christ's."~ Tim Keller, pastor

🪪 It was just a matter of time.  Thrice (never in my life used this word but doesn't it sound intelligent and British) this month we have had someone steal our identity by using our credit cards fraudulently.  Twice was for airfare, so we suggested we meet them as they board their plane, but the credit card company didn't go for it.  

I'm enraged, panicked and feel vulnerable.  How did they get it?  We didn't lose our cards, so is someone on the dark web going to cause more damage?  I guess we just have to be more vigilant.  

Do we also need to be more vigilant with our Christian identity?  No. Never. We don't ever have to worry that our identity in Christ will ever be stolen. Here's why...

🪪 We are new creations formed by God, who makes something out of nothing, brings beauty from ashes, makes dry bones come to life.  We aren't defined by our old self any more:

"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new 

person.  The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" 2 Cor 5:17

🪪  We are His masterpieces, exquisitely and uniquely designed by His hand. A masterpiece has been defined by some as 'so original that we are overwhelmed by its power'.  It's what we think of when we admire such masterpieces as Da Vinci's Last Supper or Mona Lisa, Michelangelo's David or La Pieta, the Taj Mahal, Mozart's symphonies, or Rembrandt's paintings.  

The Return of the Prodigal Son by Rembrandt

Hermitage Museum

He gave us our gifts, talents, mind, looks, personality, family- there's no mistakes or regrets with Him.  He can make each of us more like Him if we ask and obey.  No one can redefine us-not the world and not the devil.

"For we are God's masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so 

we can do the good things He planned for us long ago."  Eph 2:10

🪪  We are chosen- set apart, distinct from others, purposeful and owned by God.  We're not like the rest - we have a separate designation of light given to us by God.  We were born here and now by His design, to live out our purpose today.  No one can interfere with God's plan for us.

"But you are not like that. for you are a chosen people.  You are royal priests, a holy 

nation, God's very own possession.  As a result, you can show others the goodness

 of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9

🪪 We are given His Spirit - He gave it to us as a helper, knowing we would need it constantly.  He wants us to have access to Him every moment.  It is there to help us not be afraid of our circumstances, of our present or our future. No one can remove our access, and nothing can limit His Holy Spirit and its power.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power,

 love, and self-discipline." 2 Tim 1:7

🪪 We are His children- we are forgiven and we can't lose the eternal life He has given us when we receive Jesus dying for our sins & rising from the dead so we could be reconciled back to God.  We can't earn it and we can't have it taken away because we are less than holy, since it isn't about anything we have done to deserve it in the first place.  

"But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God." John 1: 12

🪪 God has given us so many distinguishing promises of our identities in Him- 

🪪  Hallelujah!  No one and nothing can steal away our identity in Christ.  

✙ Dear Lord, we are so thankful we are never lost to You.  You always know who we are, where we are and how we are.  You never abandon us or forget about us, because You call us Your children.  Help us to remind others and ourselves of that when this world makes us feel lost and forgotten.  Thank You for choosing us.  Amen.