20/20: Seeing Yourself in Light of the LordSample

 The New You

Can you remember a time that you had multiple opportunities, one after another, to do the right thing and still failed to do so? Maybe you are thinking of a time that you felt as though you failed God. It is important to know that God is not on the edge of His seat, waiting for you to miss the mark. He does not hold His breath in anticipation of the atrocities you might commit. God’s nature is not that of an insecure person. He desires that your eyes stay fixated on Him. He knows that as long as you stare at sin, it will be a part of your life. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that you not allow the pleasures of ungodly activity to distract your focus from remaining on Jesus.

The Apostle Paul said, “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.” (Romans 7:14 ESV) It is interesting that he compared the nature of sin to that of slavery. A slave obeys his master just as humanity is inclined to submit to sin. Ephesians 4:22-23 says, “...put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” This scripture communicates how essential is it to put on the “new self” that was provided for you on the day you accepted Jesus as Savior. By putting on this new you, you are removing everything from yourself that is ungodly. You are, as a new creation, clean and pure. This enables you to live free of guilt, yes, but also of sin. You have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to do only that which is righteous. However, you still have flesh, and therefore, actively dismiss all inclinations you have toward sin. 

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

God is still committed to you in the midst of your failures and shortcomings. During times of difficulty and frustration, it is incredibly easy to lose hope in the work God is doing in your life. It is common to desire to do what is right but miss the mark in the process. As you seek after what is good, you must cling to the God of peace that sanctifies you. As you follow your Lord, Jesus Christ, keeping your spirit, soul, and body blameless before Him, you must trust that He is faithful and will complete the work He has started in you. 

Questions to Consider:

Jesus paid a high price to give unto you a new life. He sacrificed everything to welcome the new you into His family. 

· What does this new you look like? 

· What are the differences between your old self and the person you have now embraced?