“Therefore, if anyone is
in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2
Corinthians 5:17 NIV).
When we become Christians we are a new
creation. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his
appeal through us” (2 Cor. 5:20 NIV). I am reminded of our ambassadors who
represent the United States
in other countries. They represent everything that the United States
believes in. So are we to be Christ’s ambassadors on earth in our every day
life. We are to portray to others the principals that Jesus taught. Are you
doing this or do you slip now and then and show your old nature to others?
My little grandson who is 6 has a problem
with anger. He has been known to get really angry with his brothers in
particular. Well, one day his brother asked him why he could be so good at
school and so crazy at home. He said, “It is just in my nature.” Now we can laugh at that coming from a 6 year
old, but don’t we sometimes let our old nature creep out at times? I believe we all have a war waging in us
regarding our old self and our new self in Christ. But since we have the Holy
Spirit, we can count on it to help us not give in to temptation in regards to
old habits that could bind us up in despair.
I went to a Beth Moore Simulcast on
Saturday, and she spoke about how we like to haul around our old self like a
dead body. She drug around a floppy mannequin to show us what it is like. We
don’t want to give up some of those old ways because we were more comfortable
with the old life, even when it was depressing and horrible. We need to throw if off of us, and say, “No
longer!!!”. We are to say: “No longer am
I going to be in bondage to my bad habits like: anger, eating disorders, lying,
cheating, adultery, worrying, complaining, alcohol, drugs etc.” The list could go on to include many other
vices that entice us in the world. You see you are in charge of your life. It
is up to you to decide who you will follow, Christ or the world.
When we accept Christ as our Savior we are a
new creation. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put
off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be
made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to
be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 5:22-24 NIV).
It can be a struggle not
to give in to our old ways, but with God’s help you can choose what is right so
that your witness will be a benefit to others who need someone to show them how
to walk in a manner that is pleasing to God.
Dear Lord,
Every day we have choices
to make in regards to being someone who is a blessing to others, instead of a
stumbling block. Help us not to give in to our old ways, but portray to others
a Christ-like spirit in all we do.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
