“If anyone is in Christ He is therefore a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
We have been studying about God the Creator. Last week we covered the first chapter of Genesis, where God created the world, and everything in it.
God is still creating today! 2 Corinthians tells us that once any one of us has accepted Christ, WE are a new creation!
Often, when people first contemplate Christianity, they begin to see just how sinful they really are. They realize there is no room for the ‘I am a good person’ mentality. For all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) When that realization becomes real, often there is a revelation of just how much we need Christ.
As we are forced to contemplate our sin, and recognize how short we have fallen, we often cry out, asking God to help us never do certain sins again.
When we sincerely ask Him for help, He gives it! “And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13.
With the Holy Spirit inside us, we can possess the Fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22) We can possess them, but they may be in varied quantities.
You can bet the Enemy will go after you, trying to trip you up once more. He does not want you to become victorious in Christ, and He will certainly test you in every way which is allowed by God. (from Job 1:12) But, in that trial, you only need to pray, asking God to show the way out: because it is already there! The key is to remember God’s promise: HE will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, AND when you are tempted, He WILL provide a way out!
Claim it! When we begin quoting Scripture, the Enemy gets scared. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you, Come nearer to God and He will come nearer to you.” James 4:7-8
The temptation will not last forever, but be prepared: the Enemy will change tactics, from time to time. The solid way to resist the devil is to stay in God’s word; read the Bible, and meditate on it.
When we know God’s promises, we have ammunition against His enemy.
While we are drawing near to God, resisting the devil, and reading the Scriptures, The Holy Spirit is at work in us, and God is re-creating us into the picture He saw long ago.
Once you have been on the Christian journey for a period of time, you should be able to look back and see growth in your faith. Perfection will never be attained this side of heaven, but seeing improvements is incredibly uplifting and encouraging!
Reflections:
1) How long have I been a Christian? (Monday)
2) How long have I taken that faith seriously? (Tuesday)
3) How do I react when negative, unexpected things happen? (Wednesday)
4) List ways God has used negative experiences for good. (Thursday)
5) Who am I today as a result of God’s re- creating me? (Friday)
Thank you for reading, and responding! Please return by Monday, June 11, for the next post!