New And Improved

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

5 years ago…

I was a drunk.
I was a drug addict.
I was trading my marriage for porn.
I spent more time with video games than my kids.
I attended church like I knew Jesus and lived like I didn’t.

That was 5 years ago. That was a time when I thought following Jesus was nothing more than praying a prayer. I tried to establish a partnership with Jesus… “Jesus, you handle the getting into heaven part, I’ll handle the rest of my life.” Needless to say, it didn't work out too well.

Back then I didn’t understand the concept of NEW & IMPROVED. I thought that was merely a label for brand names and product lines in advertising. Then I read 2 Corinthians 5:17. I WANTED to be new, but I didn’t know what that meant.

So I struggled.
And I struggled.
And I hurt people (the people I love most).
And I stayed stuck.

I wasn’t willing to LET GO of the “old things” in my life. I would SAY I wanted things to become new, but I LIVED like I wanted things to stay the same. As much as I didn’t want to do the things I was doing, I was somehow comfortable with the chaos of life. It doesn’t make sense.

In order to experience the NEW, I had to let go of the OLD.
In order to LET GO of my old life, I had to TRUST Jesus with my new life.
In order to LIVE this new life, I had to SURRENDER the old.

surrender = life

Reflect:

• What is it about your old life that keeps you revisiting old habits time and time again?
• To surrender is to live. Knowing this, why do we fight it?
• Why haven’t you let go of your past?
• What would be different in your life if you lived like you were a NEW CREATION?