“And have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.”
Col. 3:10, NASB
New shoes. New clothes. A new hairstyle. What is it about something brand-new that makes us smile? I don’t know anyone who dislikes receiving an unused item–especially among my female friends :).
Material novelties aside, how do you feel about becoming a new you? I mean on the inside … who you are … your character? If you’ve placed your faith in Christ, God is diligently renewing you. It doesn’t matter if you’re tall or short, blonde or brunette, soft-spoken or outspoken. God meticulously is working on you day-by-day and minute-by-minute.
This truth encourages me immensely because let’s be real: sometimes life’s responsibilities become hum-drum. Doing dishes, washing laundry, cooking, and cleaning occasionally drive me crazy–I grow weary now and then of their constancy. Even more, repeatedly dealing with the same old sins can be discouraging. Why do I fail so often?
Friends, God isn’t taking who we were and fixing it up. At the moment of salvation, He ends our state of corruption and initiates a new beginning. This is HIS work, which I find extremely comforting.
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil. 1:6
Though I struggle with sins like selfishness and speaking thoughtlessly, God is making me new. Despite my frequent missteps, God is making me new. And He won’t stop until Jesus comes back.
What about you? What responsibilities or failures weigh you down? Pause. Look up. Be encouraged. Almighty God holds you in His hands and carefully shapes you through the very situations that just crossed your mind. In every aspect of life, God renews us with a true knowledge–an experiential knowledge–of Christ, while forming Christ in us at the same time.
Rejoice! God is making you new.
Much love to each of you in Christ,
Emily
photo credit: vanessafalle via photopin cc
As His disciples, we are all called to “go and preach the kingdom of God,” but often we seek to do so on our own terms. We may verbalize our willingness, but the motives in our hearts are not pure. We are to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Christ – no terms or conditions attached.
A yearling squirrel sat no more than 8 feet away as I sat on my front porch writing a Daily Dose of Encouragement. Timidly he approached the corn feeder eyeballing me every step of the way. At first he would only get close enough to nibble on the scattered kernels on the outskirts of the pile. Scared of his human benefactor he longingly eyed the plentiful pile of corn just beyond his reach.