The past several weeks I’ve been praying for a word. A word that I could focus on and live out for the next nine months. The word I was given was new. Which is ironic, because my team leader, Brittany, had the same word for me.
Let’s start with what the word new means. New is defined as, “already existing but seen, experienced, or acquired recently or now for the first time.” New in modern Greek is kainos and means “properly, new in quality (innovation), fresh in development or opportunity – because “not found exactly like this before.”
The word is simple, yet powerful.
I have been studying and resonating with 2 Corinthians 5. (It’s SO good, I highly recommend reading it). I’m going to share a few super cool things about the passage and how it applies to my life:)
Verses 1-10 illustrate the fact that we have new bodies, because we have faith in the Father. Paul says our bodies are like tents, they are taken down and folded away and will be replaced by resurrected bodies in heaven (MSG). If our tent is destroyed or ruined; we still have hope that our old, sinful, physical bodies will be substituted with heavenly bodies. My body is only a part of me, because there is so much more to me than this physical body!
“Compared to what’s coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we’re tired of it! We’ve been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less” (MSG). But, we still live joyfully because we know that God has made us new! We know that “when the time comes, we’ll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming “(MSG). One way to get a taste of heaven on earth is by being present with the Lord! To be absent with the body means to be present with the Lord. I came across this, while studying 1 Corinthians 5…
“To be present with the Lord: This is what makes heaven really heaven, so we long to be present with the Lord. Heaven is precious to us for many reasons. We want to be with loved ones who have passed before us and whom we miss so dearly. We want to be with the great men and women of God who have passed before us in centuries past. We want to walk the streets of gold, see the pearly gates, and see the angels round the throne of God worshipping Him day and night. However, none of those things, precious as they are, make heaven really “heaven.” What makes heaven really heaven is the unhindered, unrestricted presence of our Lord. The place of heaven would be like hell if we could not be present with the Lord” (Guzik).
I am resting in the truth that there is more in heaven and we are preparing to go home by being present with the Lord. When the trials are hard on earth, it isn’t always easy to take comfort in our heavenly destiny. God knew this, so He gave us the Spirit as a guarantee. He chose us to carry the Holy Spirit and that is His promise to us. How cool is that :’)
Verses 11-21 describe our ministry of reconciliation.
We are called to persuade others and be a messenger of the Good News in 2 Corinthians 5:11-13. The Corinthian Christians probably thought Paul was crazy because he seemed content with his life of tribulations, discomfort and pain if it brought glory to God. On the contrary, Paul was not crazy, but he was motivated by the love of God. Paul encourages me to do ministry, because I have received so much love from Jesus that it compels me to serve others. The greatest foundation for ministry is wanting to give something to others because Jesus gave you everything. The love of Christ has power to influence and change the world!! Use it. His love should have the first and last word in everything you do.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 says, “Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in His death so that everyone could also be included in His life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own” (MSG). If Jesus died for us, it only makes sense that we live for Him.
Paul makes it clear that we no longer regard people according to the flesh! Instead, we regard others according to the heart!! Why do we do this?
· Because we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen (2 Corinthians 4:18).
· Because our earthly tent will be destroyed, but we will have a new body, eternal in the heavens (2 Corinthians 5:1).
· Because we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
· Because we do not glory in appearance, but we glory in heart (2 Corinthians 5:12).
Because of this new life made possible by Jesus, old earthly attachments are far less important. Anyone that is united with the Messiah gets a fresh start and is created new (2 Corinthians 5:16, MSG)!!! Anyone meaning all. It doesn’t matter what race, nationality, or language. Each and every person can be made new! This is a promise for anyone who is in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Those that are saved are not just forgiven, but are made new. Being made new does not mean being perfect. However, being made new means that we are changed and are being changed because God reconciles us. The Lord makes us a new creation not by doing something for us, but in us. We are told “to 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” (Ephesians 4:22-24). New creation– “A phrase which argueth the greatest change imaginable, and such a one as can be wrought in the soul by no other power than the power of God” (Poole). All things have become new is the language of God’s perfect, recreated work (Revelation 21:5). God wants to do a new thing in our life.
“The man is not only mended, but he is new made… there is a new creation, which God himself owns as his workmanship, and which he can look on and pronounce very good” (Clarke).
God did not reconcile us to Himself by an incredible, righteous sacrifice of love. God demands not one bit less justice and righteousness from man under Jesus, but the demand has been satisfied through Jesus Christ. The Lord has given us the ministry of reconciliation: He has reconciled us to Himself through His Son, now God expects us to take up the ministry of reconciliation and has therefore committed to us the word of reconciliation.
The next nine months I want to be an ambassador of Christ and live a life of a new creation in Christ. I want to be compelled by His love and serve in His ministry of reconciliation. I am made alive and made new in Him.
“It is not so much reconcile yourselves as ‘be reconciled.’ Yield yourselves to him who round you now the bands of a man would cast, drawing you with cords of love because he was given for you… Submit yourselves. Yield to the grasp of those hands which were nailed to the cross for you” (Spurgeon).
I encourage you to join me and live as a new creation. So, we must all receive the gift of being a new creation and be challenged to live the life of a new creation. Yes, I have already existed but the Lord is working through me and He has made me new because I have faith in Him.
Thanks for taking the time to hear my heart and what the Lord is teaching me through the word: new.
Blog ya laterrr 😉
— Alicia Young:-)
