Today’s Reading
“For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.” (Galatians 3:26-27 NLT)
You have been called and you answered. Answering yes to Christ means 1 – You are a child of God. 2 – You are united with Christ, including the body of Christ (the church). 3 – You are made new. The Bible says that accepting and following Christ means you are made new! It doesn’t say you’re refurbished, remade or have gotten a good washing… You’re NEW! New means that all those chains and sinful ways that gripped you before are completely gone and forgotten by God, so they should be forgotten by you. You are free, truly free. You have been called to live in this freedom.
Freedom in God’s eyes has a beauty unlike anything we can comprehend. Our freedom in Christ means the old life is so far gone that God doesn’t even see our slavery, but sees His perfect Son when He looks at us. So why do we lay gripped in fear of the chains that held us down and God destroyed forever? “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT) It is difficult sometimes, because the world tells us that we are still slaves and it evens sometimes tells us that slavery is good. Our hope, strength and trust, however, can be drawn from being rooted in the truths that are spoken by God throughout the Bible. God has never wavered or contradicted Himself. “Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.” (Colossians 3:9-10 NLT) Don’t listen to the world. Listen to your Savior who has set you free.
Reflection
New means that your chains are broken and you are no longer a slave, but set free in Christ. Consider the mountains and valleys in life that you face. Are you believing you are refurbished or believing that you are made new?
Since God has called us to freedom, we therefore know that the feelings of fear and captivity are not of God. What thoughts do you need to give to God because they are an obstacle for you to living in freedom?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your goodness and power that has saved us from captivity and brought us to live in freedom with You, forever. Please forgive us for our struggle to rid our minds of the chains You have forgotten. We need Your encouragement and wisdom so we can be strengthened to stand unwavering, living as the son or daughter You have called us to be. In Jesus’ name; amen.