Providence Anglican Church

“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” — 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

In 2014, Americans spent more than $12 billion on over 10 million cosmetic surgery procedures. Every year more people are having “work done.” I didn’t even know I could get my buttocks augmented! I’ve been accepting my buttocks as is for so long, I kind of feel like a fool.

I don’t think the reason for cosmetic surgery is that we don’t like our bodies; it’s that we don’t like ourselves. People believe building a new house will satisfy them, but the reality is that only building a new life will give them what they’re truly looking for.

God’s Image

What’s the reason for this longing we have? I think it’s because we were made in God’s image. We were designed to live our lives reflecting who he is. That’s why we get so frustrated by our bad choices and bad habits. We know we were intended for better, but somehow we’ve messed things up. And something inside us screams, “I want to be made new!”

And the good news is that we can be. Here’s the promise we have from God: “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

A Confused Butterfly

Imagine a caterpillar. This caterpillar is crawling around in the dirt. Why? Because that’s what caterpillars do. But then this caterpillar goes through an incredible transformation in which it becomes something brand new: a butterfly.

What kind of butterfly would crawl around in the dirt? Well, I guess only one who didn’t realize it was a butterfly. A butterfly who thought it was still a caterpillar would continue to crawl in the dirt. Understand this: if you’ve become a Christian, even if you are still struggling with your old ways, that is not the real you anymore.

Now What?

Read 2 Corinthians 3:18. As a Christ follower, you have a new identity. Ask God to show you the old identity you maybe haven’t let go of yet and to help you believe you really are new in Christ.

Source from Devo for the Rest of you by Vince Antonucci