Skip to main content

New Creation

             Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (II Corinthians 5:17)

            We’ve made it one day into the new year. I’ve started my new “I shall come forth as gold” journal. And according to today’s passage, we are new creations. Woo Hoo New! Except we are like Eustace Scrubb in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, trapped in the body of a dragon, and having to peal away layer after layer to free that new self. It can be a difficult and painful process, one that seems to us to take far too long.

Part of the problem is that our focus quickly shifts from being new creations and releasing that new self to pain and disappointment because the change isn’t fast, painless, and complete and it is often unnoticed by the people around us. Worse yet, if they do notice, they might not be as encouraging and supportive as we’d like. The old self seems so strong, and if we’ve had success then lost ground, the self seems even stronger and victory seems twice as far away.

One of the things I keep telling people in the homesteading group is to do what you can where you are with what you have. Given the fact that Christians have the Holy Spirit, we should approach life with assurance. But sometimes, we must take smaller steps. Sometimes, the step we can take isn’t what the experts tell us we should do. As an example, one of my goals is to get healthier and stronger so that I am better able to do all I want to do. Some would begin with requiring that I give up carbohydrates – sugar, pasta, bread, muffins, spaghetti sauce, honey, jam, and jelly…

I just can’t. And some would suggest that I’m being rebellious. But on the way to work this morning, I bought some almonds to grind and put in oatmeal, so at least I’m eating a better carb and almonds instead of peanut butter. And some might complain that by desire to eat healthier isn’t a spiritual goal, but if I am trying to learn to eat in a way that is in line with what God created my body to use, it’s still a step of obedience.

Switching from me to you – what challenges seem too big for you? Is there a smaller challenge that is a step toward it? How will you live as a new creation this year?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more