If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 

~ 2 Corinthians 5:17 ~

Most of us remember the classic story "The Ugly Duckling." A small bird is born on a farmyard, but something about him seems… off. The ducks mock him. The chickens peck at him. Everywhere he goes, the message is the same: “You’re awkward.” “You don’t belong.” “Something must be wrong with you.” So, the little duck grows up believing the lie: This is just who I am.

Now, I’ve always felt a personal connection to that story. My name is Drake, and for those who may not know, a drake is literally a male duck. Not eagle. Not lion. Not stallion. Duck! So if anyone should understand the Ugly Duckling story, it’s me.

But here’s the fascinating part of that old tale. The ugly duckling didn’t become something new. One day, he looked into the water and saw his reflection beside a group of swans—and realized he had been a swan all along. Therefore, he didn’t need self-improvement. He needed revelation. Once he understood his true identity, everything about his life changed. The same bird that once hid in the weeds now glided across the water with strength and beauty. A new identity created a new reality.

And that’s exactly what Jesus was getting at when He told Nicodemus: “You must be born again.” (John 3:7). Many people think the message of Jesus is about becoming a better version of yourself. Try harder. Behave better—clean things up. But Jesus says something far more radical. You must be born again. In other words, the Christian life is not simply about improvement—it’s about transformation. The apostle Paul puts it this way: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Notice the language. New creation. Not patched up. Not adjusted. New! Which means the lie that whispers in our ears—“That’s just how I am”—no longer has the final word. “I’ve always been angry.” “I’ve always been fearful.” “My family has always been like this.” Maybe that’s who you were. But in Christ, identity changes first, and when identity changes, reality begins to follow – New thinking. New attitudes. New direction. This new way of life is where the battle begins.

Because the war Jesus came to win isn’t just around us — it’s within us. False beliefs, broken character, and destructive habits make up the battlefield of the soul. The enemy loves to convince us that we’re stuck in the barnyard version of ourselves. But Jesus sees something completely different and leads in a very different way. We see it in the Gospels. People keep interrupting Him. Crowds press in. The sick cry out. The desperate reach for Him. Yet Jesus never treats people as a bother. He stops. He listens. He restores. This “No Bother Leadership” demonstrates His patience and care, inspiring you to trust His leadership in your life.

To Jesus, broken people are never an inconvenience. They are the mission. And when He looks at someone, He never defines them by their past—He calls them into their future. Fishermen become apostles. Tax collectors become disciples. Persecutors become missionaries. Why? Because Jesus sees what people can become when they receive a new identity, which brings us to the war tactic for this week: Put off the old self and put on the uniform of Christ.

Every soldier knows what happens when you put on the uniform. You represent something bigger than yourself. Your identity changes the moment you wear it.

The same is true in Christ. The old self says, “This is just how I am.” But the new life in Christ says, “That’s who I was. God is making me someone new.” Embrace this truth to feel empowered and purposeful in your faith journey.

So here’s the closing thought: The ugly duckling didn’t need confidence; he needed revelation. Because once you understand who you are…your reality begins to change. And in Christ, you were not just saved from the past. You were born for battle, where The Art of War—Jesus Style—gives you a new identity and a new fight.

And, as always, remember, God is here. God is able. God is good.

Pastor Drake