Thursday, November 14, 2013

A New Creation

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  2 Corinthians 5:17 

Don’t ever underestimate the power of the Gospel to transform a life! I am reminded afresh and anew that in Christ, you and I have been empowered to be and entrusted to steward Good News.  Paul, the Apostle who wrote 2/3 of the New Testament including the verse above, understood Good News and its life-changing experience. 

As you recall, Paul was born with the name Saul -- and he was the least likely man to become a follower of Jesus. He began his career steeped in religious legalism and became the number one persecutor of the Christian church.  After encountering the living person of Jesus Christ on the Damascus road, he was told to go to a nearby city. Saul was so transformed by the love, grace and power of Jesus that his name was changed to Paul, and his life ambition was transformed too -- from Christian killer to ambassador for Jesus Christ.

In the transformation process, Paul had to do something extremely challenging, something that we have to do as well. He had to lay down his old identity to embrace his new one.

What lies need to be laid down for you?  What myths have you been clinging to that are wreaking havoc in your life and relationships?  What or who is defining who you are right now where you are reading this? The Gospel is Good News only because through Jesus’ efforts (not ours!) and the Holy Spirit’s ministry, we are invited to become new and to enter into a relationship with God our Father. Lest that last truth cause your blood to rise a bit, please remember that God is not a reflection of our earthly fathers, He is the perfection of our earthly fathers!

This weekend I have the joy of bring the last truth in our ID series, the truth that we are Ambassadors!  Read up in 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 and I look forward to being together!  Important musings follow.  As I told my daughter as I dropped her off to high school this morning, “Remember who you are!”

I love being your pastor!