As 2014 begins, with it comes talk of a fresh start and new beginnings. Resolutions are made to eat healthier, save money, travel, learn a new skill etc. But as Christ followers, the new year is always a good reminder of who we are in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. (HCSB)
Galatians 2:20 and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (HCSB)
Ephesians 4:22-24 You took off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires; you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds; you put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth. (HCSB)
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. (HCSB)
Galatians 2:20 and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (HCSB)
Ephesians 4:22-24 You took off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires; you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds; you put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth. (HCSB)
Galatians 5:24-25 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (NIV)
Colossians 3:9-10 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. (HCSB)
2 Corinthians 3:18 We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit. (HCSB)
Going into the new year it is important for us to remember that we are new creations! The old has gone and the new has come. It is no longer us that live, but Christ in us! And we know that He is perfect so that we don't have to be. We have perfection living inside of us! All we have to do is lean on Him and rely on His leading. With that in mind, let's go into this new season forgetting all of our mistakes and regrets in 2013 and prior. In the long run, what does it matter?
Paul said this in Philippians 3:12-14: Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
Before Paul became a follower of Jesus, he was busy trying to exterminate Christians! If he can forget what is behind him, I think we can forget our mistakes too. Jesus has washed away our sins and made us white as snow. He didn't die on the cross to sit on His throne and remind us of every mistake we've made. He died so that we could be free of our sins and live life the way He always intended. He wants only what is best for us. He gives us His word to tell us the right ways to live so that we can have the best life possible, not so He can condemn us when we mess up! He loves us more than we can imagine.
If He isn't condemning us, we shouldn't condemn ourselves. All we can do is recognize when we mess up, repent, and move on; ask Him to help us through it and leave it behind us. Don't get stuck in a rut thinking about the past and things you can't change! It only holds us back from what He has in store for our future.
Likewise, we should forget the wrongs done to us in the past. I love the way Nelson Mandela put it, "Resentment is like drinking poison and hoping it will kill your enemies." Oftentimes I find myself bitter about a wrong I feel has been done to me because I don't want to let the other person "get away" with treating me that way. But in reality, the chances that the person who has inflicted the wrongdoing even knows they've done anything are slim. The bitterness I harbor affects me and me alone. How much better is it to just let those things go and live in the love and grace of Christ? He will take care of the inflictor in His own ways. We are not the ones who get to say what others deserve. Sometimes it is appropriate to let others know when we feel they have wronged us, but not in a condemning way to make them feel guilt. We should tell our brothers and sisters the truth in love.
This year (and beyond) I resolve to let go of the past and not to harbor bitterness against others. Let's take the good memories and move forward always pressing on towards our goal! Here's to new beginnings!
Colossians 3:9-10 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. (HCSB)
2 Corinthians 3:18 We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit. (HCSB)
Going into the new year it is important for us to remember that we are new creations! The old has gone and the new has come. It is no longer us that live, but Christ in us! And we know that He is perfect so that we don't have to be. We have perfection living inside of us! All we have to do is lean on Him and rely on His leading. With that in mind, let's go into this new season forgetting all of our mistakes and regrets in 2013 and prior. In the long run, what does it matter?
Paul said this in Philippians 3:12-14: Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
Before Paul became a follower of Jesus, he was busy trying to exterminate Christians! If he can forget what is behind him, I think we can forget our mistakes too. Jesus has washed away our sins and made us white as snow. He didn't die on the cross to sit on His throne and remind us of every mistake we've made. He died so that we could be free of our sins and live life the way He always intended. He wants only what is best for us. He gives us His word to tell us the right ways to live so that we can have the best life possible, not so He can condemn us when we mess up! He loves us more than we can imagine.
If He isn't condemning us, we shouldn't condemn ourselves. All we can do is recognize when we mess up, repent, and move on; ask Him to help us through it and leave it behind us. Don't get stuck in a rut thinking about the past and things you can't change! It only holds us back from what He has in store for our future.
Likewise, we should forget the wrongs done to us in the past. I love the way Nelson Mandela put it, "Resentment is like drinking poison and hoping it will kill your enemies." Oftentimes I find myself bitter about a wrong I feel has been done to me because I don't want to let the other person "get away" with treating me that way. But in reality, the chances that the person who has inflicted the wrongdoing even knows they've done anything are slim. The bitterness I harbor affects me and me alone. How much better is it to just let those things go and live in the love and grace of Christ? He will take care of the inflictor in His own ways. We are not the ones who get to say what others deserve. Sometimes it is appropriate to let others know when we feel they have wronged us, but not in a condemning way to make them feel guilt. We should tell our brothers and sisters the truth in love.
This year (and beyond) I resolve to let go of the past and not to harbor bitterness against others. Let's take the good memories and move forward always pressing on towards our goal! Here's to new beginnings!
Firstly, I LOVE the title of your blog!! It's so poignant to what being a Christian truly means. Absolutely agree with this and would love to add a few things. When we recount for others our testimonies, it will often include wrongs done to us and most certainly wrongs that we have committed. I think it is important to not return emotionally to that time when we are telling others of our testimony. I find that this happens often when I am sharing my life with others. When we tell our testimonies, we should seek Jesus. If we seek Him, we will find him. He's also most certainly all over our lives before we encountered Him, if we are willing to look.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful idea, Lauren and I'm so incredibly excited to see your thoughts through this blog! Love you and I look forward to 2014 in fellowship with each other. It's very exciting what Christ is doing through the Jesus in you and in our community.
That is a great point! We need to be able to let things go and that includes emotionally. What's done is done and he has redeemed it! Testimonies are so effective because Jesus is the moral of the story! I messed up, but He redeemed it!! We should tell our testimonies with joy at what He's done!
DeleteThank you Sammie! I am so glad to have your support. Thanks for being such a great friend and example of Christ's love. Love you much!