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
Jesus, help me to be fully focused on Your presence.
Wrap me up in Your love. Let my heart become one with Yours.
Read today’s passage again, but this time read it out loud, emphasizing the words “anyone,” “new person,” and “new life.”
In the Bible, we see lots of contrasts between the ways of God’s kingdom and the ways of popular culture. God’s kingdom is filled with love, hope, peace, and life. Our world is filled with hate, despair, jealousy, and death. Every person is born into this world, and God invites every person also to be born into His kingdom.
When we choose to say our one big yes to Jesus and begin following Him (see devotion #3), we are born into God’s kingdom. When we’re born into God’s kingdom, we’re made new, and the old things that used to hold us back are gone.
This doesn’t mean that we won’t still struggle. It just means we won’t struggle alone.
As we abide, God’s Holy Spirit helps us say a whole bunch of little, everyday yeses to continue becoming the people God dreams for us to be.
REFLECT:
Think back to the moment or season in your life when you said your one big yes to begin following Jesus. What’s that story? (If you haven’t yet said that one big yes, reach out to someone from your church to talk about it.)ur life look like God?
RESPOND:
Thank God for the gift of becoming new. Ask God to help you say your one big yes (if you haven’t already) and continue to say a whole bunch of little, everyday yeses as you live your new life and abide in Jesus.