[Dailydevo] Daily Devotion Friday January 5, 2007

[Barry Ludwig]

Friday January 5, 2007

The devotions this week are prepared by Pastor Ludwig.  As we begin a new
year, let's look at what God's word has to say about the idea of newness
from a faith perspective.

 

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (RSV)

Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has
passed away, behold, the new has come.  All this is from God, who through
Christ reconciled us to himself and  gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not  counting
their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the  message of
reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal
through us.  

At my age, getting out of bed in the morning can make me wish my body was a
new creation! But Paul is talking about how we live out our relationships
with others.  It is easy to stay angry. It is hard to forgive. It is easy to
say hurtful things back at someone who has done it to us. It is hard to hold
our tongue and let the anger pass before speaking.  I was once told by a
former member that she would "never come back to church because of what the
pastor said to her"..30 years ago!  I was taken back by such lasting pain
and anger.

 

But Christ has come to turn us into a new creation. Once we behold the light
of God's love for us in His Son Jesus, we will be changed. The first change
Jesus brings is to wash away the pain of the past with all of its anger and
shame. Next, we are introduced to a new day that is fresh and clear. This is
a new day and ahead of you are unexpected wonders of God's grace. Let go of
yesterday's (or last decade's) old, weary pains.  You are a new creation.

 

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