Everything around us is skewed to an idea about identity. Vote for this person, buy this, watch this, spend time doing that, etc. We live in a world with “ad sense”, where our interests appear to us as consumer goods, and where outside influencers come at us at every angle to try to dictate what our families will purchase, do, look like, and everything in between.

As Christians, we are called to be different. But how can we drown out the noise all around us and become who God is calling us to be? I think the answer lies in remembering who God says that we are.

First, God says that we are called. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” People love to quote the beginning of this verse saying “all things work together for good” but they forget about the second part. Christians are supposed to be “those who are called according to His purpose.” This means that He has called us, and He has a reason that He has called us. You see, a call is something that requires action. God is calling us to do something for Him. The result of that calling is that things work out for our good.

Second, we are blessed. 2 Corinthians 9:8 says "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." Lately, I have been wondering, like a lot of folks, if I am going to have all I need. However I try to remember that safety, a roof over my head, the love of my family, and food on the table is all that I truly need. My life is a life of blessing and I should be thankful for God’s goodness to me, and for all the blessings I enjoy on a daily basis.

Third, and most importantly, we are loved. 1 John 4:7-11 says "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." God loved us first and gave His life for us. He knew the solution to our salvation from this world and all of its struggles is simply this: to love God and love each other.

As we look past COVID-19 and look into a somewhat murky future, we can be absolutely certain that we have been called to live in faith, that that faith blesses us with what we need, and that God's love is the one thing that should make us different.

We are called, we are blessed, and we are loved. That’s who we are.

Justin Groff
Principal