2 Corinthians 5:14b-19
Since we believe that Christ
died for all of us, we should also believe that we have died to the old
life we used to live. He died for all so that all who live—having
received eternal life from him—might live no longer for themselves, to
please themselves, but to spend their lives pleasing Christ who died and
rose again for them.
So stop evaluating Christians by what the
world thinks about them or by what they seem to be like on the outside.
Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, merely as a human being
like myself. How differently I feel now! When someone becomes a
Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same
anymore. A new life has begun!
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
As I checked out at the
grocery store the other day, I thought I recognized the man in line
ahead of me. I wasn’t sure, so I didn’t speak to him…but he seemed very
familiar. If I was right, I remember him as a very nice, kind,
Christian man. However, the clerk was visibly rattled as he walked away
– and she said he had been a total grump and had almost been downright
rude to her. I told her that I thought I recognized him…and he
was actually a very nice man who must be having a terribly bad day. She
thanked me for being polite and said I “more made up for” his
unpleasantness…and I did my best to put her back in a good mood.
The
thing is…people are watching…and some have pretty long memories. A lot
of folks will judge us and “peg” us in one way or another based on a
single experience – or prior history. And we do this, too. We are
often astounded to find that the person we could not stand in childhood,
high school or our early adult life is now someone we really like – or
vice versa. We could all probably note someone who experienced something
traumatic or life-changing…and it seemed to be a real turning point in
his/her life…and a personality changer, as well. Surely you have said
of someone, “He/she is not even the same person I used to know!”
Can
people really change? Absolutely! Unfortunately, these changes are
not always positive. But when JESUS transforms someone from the inside
out, the results are generally – and astoundingly – good ones. Some
people change when they claim salvation in Jesus. For others, the shift
often occurs after some life-altering event. Some are changed following
a health scare, the loss of loved ones, or a major blow - like the
loss of a job. Others are changed by the unfair judgment and criticism
of others…or personal neglect. I think of how my mentor, Mrs. Peggy,
developed such a tremendous visitation ministry after her own
mother-in-law was virtually ignored by her church family when she became
ill, and ultimately died.
The point is this…we don’t have to
wait for a life-changing event to become the “new creature in Christ”
that He has called us to be. We can evaluate our lives and make
necessary adjustments today. It doesn’t matter what others think of
us…or what we think of other people. What matters is what Jesus
thinks! The U.S. Army used to have a slogan that said…“Be all that you
can be.” Are you all that you can be for Jesus? Even if you surrendered
your heart to Him decades ago…did you truly change from the inside
out? You can still do this…and there is no better time than TODAY!
Stop
judging others based on past history or outward appearances…and stop
living like the “old you!” Be the new creature that Jesus has
created…and look for this in others, as well. We may still occasionally
have a bad day and show that “old side” to someone else. But with
God’s help, we can transform ourselves more and more each day into the
Disciple He intended us to be. Everything old IS new with Jesus. It’s
time we lived this truth each and every day. How are you doing?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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