A New Creation

It is written, "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

This verse speaks to how we as Christians should live our life on this earth. It does not just speak to our overall life  as a Christian, as in what has changed in the destination of our soul because of Christ' sacrifice. But, it speaks to how we are to live out our life, in the flesh, daily. You see, there is a certain way, a NEW way in which we as Christians should think, act and speak. I think we look at this verse and say, "yes, I agree, I am new creation because I am no longer going to hell, I am going to heaven because I believe in Jesus Christ." Well now, my question to you is, What impact does your faith in Jesus Christ, that He did died on the cross, that He was buried, and that He was raised from the dead and you are now a NEW creation, have on your life?

How does this TRUTH display itself in your daily life? In your thoughts? In your actions?

No, for real.

Are you a Christian that lives a life of sin? Do you still curse people out or lash out people when you are rubbed the wrong way? Do you feel the need to be heard regardless......Are you shacking up and living a life of fornication before the Lord and calling what you have 'blessed'? Or maybe  you live a life of pointing fingers or blaming others, for whatever. People who blame others do so to get the focus off them or plainly put, do not want to take responsibility for themselves or their actions?

So just what does this mean for the Christian believer? This means, I have NO EXCUSE! I cannot curse someone out or lash out at them just because they made me mad. I cannot. If I do, I have no Biblical support in doing this and bring reproach upon myself. I DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT! I do not have the right to withhold forgiveness, kindness from anyone for whatever reason. If I do, I have no Biblical support and I bring reproach upon myself. And I DON'T HAVE PERMISSION! I do not have permission to sin against God just because someone has sinned against God! Example, I'm guilty of holding this philosophy in the past, "I will will hurt you, because you hurt me" or plainly put, "She had an affair, so now I can have an affair". You get the point. If I decide to do this, I have no Biblical support and I bring reproach upon myself.  Whatever we do, even in the heat of things, we are to do it unto the Lord! {Colossians 3:23}

When living a life in Christ we are admonished to acquire a Holy Ambition to preach Christ, to Live A Holy Life so that Christ can be known, and His Name can be preached that the lost maybe found! It is an Ambition for our lifetime, not when just when I go to church, school, or work... but every minute, every second....every breathe. Once we have counted the cost of following the Christ and have decided and confessed Him as our Lord and Savior, THEN is when we have given up our EXCUSES, our RIGHTS, and  our PERMISSIONS for the sake of Christ! Living a life in Christ is WHAT WE CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS DO!!! Not perform!

Colossians is a great book. Colossians 3 is one of the most lovinglyconvicting* chapter for me. I find myself in every line. It tells of HOW I are to live this life, not for myself, but for Christ and His Glory. Check this out!

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are of above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God."- Colossians 3:1-3

"We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." Romans 15:1-2 Well this just nullifies our right, excuses and so called permissions to tell anyone off! "Going OFF" on someone doesn't make you wise, smart or look good. It just shows you are being DISOBEDIENT to God's Word.

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:10 "the life in the flesh I live by faith" We should live this life by  faith, in obedience to Christ. Again, NO EXCUSES. How can you say Christ lives in you as you are shacking up with your boyfriend or girlfriend? NO! He is far from you! Can the Holy Spirit sin? Can He tempt you to sin? NO!!! This is a part of the OLD selfish ways, not of the NEW!

Sidenote: For those who are Chrisitians and have a Holy Ambition to please the Lord in ALL they do but fall and get back up and fall and get back up...this is NOT who I am speaking of or to..... none of us are without sin. Romans 3:23 says, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." I am speaking of those who say I am a BELIeVER and FOLLOWER of Christ but lifestyle reflects ONLY SELF & the ways of this WORLD.

"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life." John 5:39-40 CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? People read the Word of God and don't even think about Jesus! WhattheWhat!!! I know you have heard it because I have heard it so many times, "Satan knows the Word!" Yes. He does. He knows what it says and still tries to defy it and get around it..my question is,"WHY DO WE THINK WE CAN'T DO THE SAME!"

Some Christians are deceived in believing they are living a BLESSED life of sin. They give off just enough "Jesusness"* so people will leave them alone, all the while deceived and missing out on the FULLNESS of God's blessing of knowing WHOSE THEY ARE and All that comes with just being HIS!!!
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places, even as he chose us before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.......{I LOVE THAT}.......for this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having your eyes enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe....." Ephesians 1:3-4,15-19a



How does this TRUTH display itself in your daily life? In your thoughts? In your actions? 

That YOU ARE BLESSED AND YOU HIS!!!  Let's LIVE LIKE IT!!!

*WordsIMadeUp

RE-ENFORCEMENTS

I used to have a negative view of the word "Reenforce". Better yet, it was intimidating! It was almost over-bearing. I am not for sure why I felt this way about this particular word. Today, my thoughts are not the same, praise God!!!! Walking out my faith on this earth, I sure do need some re-enforcers in my life. I have some really great sisters (Christians whether blood related on earth or not), that love me and support and speak God's truth to me over and over again. I PRAISE GOD for them. I really like Merriam-Webster's definitions. Yes, ALL three. Here they are:

1.to strengthen by additional assistance, material, or support : make stronger or more pronounced 
2 to strengthen or increase by fresh additions 
3to stimulate (as an experimental animal or a student) with a reinforcer; also : to encourage (a response) with a reinforcer

This re-enforcement, for me, comes in the way of friends, family, and most of all the Holy Spirit, Himself. David said in Psalm 73:2  "But as for me, I almost lost my footing.My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone." He tells of his complaining, etc., etc. then picks up in  verse 17, "Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and then I realized...." Isn't that just beatutiful! No wonder David begins the chapter with, "Truly God is good to Israel,to those whose hearts are pure." The Lord is Good and He has given us His Word to RE-ENFORCE His Truths and His Promises. He sends us brothers from another mother and sisters from another mister to correct us, encourage us, love us, and perhaps, rebuke us as we walk by faith! Sometimes, we even have someone else to usher us into the Sanctuary of the Lord! This has been true for me, many of times.

O, How I love the Lord for His Faithfulness! He, alone, is Thee Faithful One!!! I depend on Him> He is my Ultimate Re-Enforcer! He is My Support, My Strengthener! The Lord is Good!

How can you become  that friend that can be counted on to uphold, love, support? By being just what this picture says, below.

Being available to someone is what a true friend IS! Keeping it truthful and real as in not playing the "perfect" role or trying to 'keep it all together'. Nope, just being the new you, in Christ, who realizes that she(or he) is still in the 'in-between' stage of being a New Creature in Christ without the manifestations of the Glorified Body that IS soon to come! As my Pastor back home once said, The Already, but Not Yet State! Love it!

I admonish you to look around. Do you see someone who could use a brother or sister to hold up there arms on this faith walk? I know you do, I see a few from where I'm stitting!