What does it mean to be a disciple or follower of Jesus Christ?  Well, just like the early disciples, if you answered the call of salvation through Christ, you answered the call to follow Him.  You now have a new purpose and meaning for living.   You have a new identity.  Your identity is not in what you may or may not do for a vocation or living.  Your identity is not in how much wealth you have acquired or the lack thereof.  Your identity is not in how many Facebook “friends” you have.  Your identity is not in what position you think you may have or not have in the local body.  Your identity is not in what our culture would try to mold you into being.  Your true, eternal identity is who you are in Christ - “Christ in you, the hope of glory!” - you now have the Holy Spirit living in you!  And He wants to manifest the love of Christ through you to others.   Like the parable of the good Samaritan (cf. Luke 10: 25-37), you can identify with the needs of the stranger.  You show mercy, grace and compassion - because that is preciously what Christ showed you!  As in the words of Micah, “and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (cf. 6:8)  In the case of the one who showed mercy in the parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.”  You see, your true identity is Christ in you!  And now by the grace and mercy of God you “live out the love of Christ” in a world gone bad - one in which Christ died for!  And point them to the only Savior - Christ Jesus our Lord!

In His Service,

Pastor Rodney