Completely different

I was one way, but now I am completely different".

After Mary meets Jesus, everything is different. The place where she lives, the people she interacts with, the things she does.

It seems like it is in the nature of God to make things "completely different.” He loves to make something new. Reread the verse from Isaiah. And remember how Paul writes it very specifically about people who believe in Jesus - "in Christ, we are a new creation." That's new, radical, and completely different.

Do you believe in Jesus?

Paul writes about how Jesus died. He gave Himself so that you and I can become new.

What is needed for that is an encounter with Him. Probably your life looks very different from Mary's, but don't we all need Jesus to touch us and set us free?

In John 1:12, you read that - if you have accepted Jesus - you have become a child of God. From that moment on, you are part of His family. Talking about renewal!

How special it is when you can look at your life and then say,"I was one way, but now I am completely different..."

Take the following questions to consider:

• Mary says, "I was 'one way,'' but now I am completely different." Are there things in your life that you would like to see changed?
• What would it take for that to happen?
• (How) has Jesus changed your life?

Prayer:

"Lord, thank You for the wonderful example of what You did in Mary's life. Thank You for wanting to do the same for me. Amen."