₦airaland Forum

4/8/2010

SAME BUT DIFFERENT
Read 2 Corinthians 5:17

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Let's face it, this verse doesn't always ring true for us. The old way of life is far from dead and buried. The new life appears in hints, spasmodically. Yet this same Paul who wrote these words was honest about his own struggles with his old nature. We don't become instantly perfect. Our progress may be slow and liable to interruption. In fact, it is better to see this verse as saying we have entered a new era, begun a new life direction. We now live in the age of the Spirit.

The other misunderstanding we face is to think that becoming this new person or entering this new era means we become fundamentally different people. It is better to think our becoming more and more the people God made us to be. Morally more conforming to the life and character of Jesus. Personally being the unique selves God originally fashioned.

To become a new person in Jesus doesn't mean introverts become extroverts, or that engineers become fashion designers, or that those with an eye to detail become visionaries. True, we always change and modify, but God wants to help us become our true best selves not someone else. I become a new person in that my essential self is renewed, rough edges trimmed, good features enhanced.

No need to strive to become someone different. Rather with God's help strive to be the same but different.

Blessings
David Reay.

http://www.hope1032.com.au/
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