Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals
Tuesday August 18 2026
More Bible Studies Available @ http://www.marktabata.com. To Receive Free Bible Studies And Updates Via Email, Contact Mark Tabata @ 606-216-1757 (SMS Only) or mailto:markatabata@gmail.com (Email). Follow me on Substack: http://substack.com/@marktabata. Also please visit my author page: http://amazon.com/author/marktabata
Colossians 2:18-19-Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
Several months ago, I spoke with a member of the FBI and some social workers regarding the events that led up my wife and I having to relocate from Hazard, Kentucky (our home of nearly twenty years) back in 2023. As part of the regular proceedings associated with all of that, a background check was performed on me.
I was amazed at what I discovered!
In 1986, when I was seven years old and living in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia, someone from across the country used my name and social security number to purchase land somewhere in North Carolina.
Well, I hope that they at least got beachfront property near the ocean for all that trouble that they went to!
Anyway, it made me start thinking about the subject of identity theft. This is something we hear about so often today. There are entire businesses that operate to protect people from having their identities stolen.
There is a spiritual application to this also.
The enemy that we face as Christians wants to rob us of our identity. Satan and the powers of darkness would have us forget who we are as the church of Christ. We must not forget that our identity is rooted in who God says in His Word that we are.
1 Peter 2:9-12-But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
You are God’s:
Progeny
Priesthood
Proclaimers
People
Pardoned
Pilgrims
Pioneers
Platoon
Don’t let the enemy rob you of your identity in Christ.
2 John 8-Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.
Revelation 3:11-Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
Remember who (and Whose) you are.
Father, thank You that our being is found in Christ. Help us to safeguard that spiritual identity and live accordingly. Amen.