April 21, 2013 – Pastor Tim – “This is A Brand-New Game”
2 Corinthians 5:14-17, “ For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Ever eat at a diner or restaurant where they write the daily specials on a board outside? Even if it’s wiped off every day, there’s still a trace of the old specials. Even if it’s scrubbed off, there will always be a trace of the old marker…even if it’s only a tiny spec. We have probably watched enough CSI to know this is true. But not so with God…
- God does not wipe away.
- God does not clean.
- God creates a brand new board—fresh and un-used.
All that we were is gone!!! All that stuff we worried about no longer counts. When we make this decision to follow Christ we are a new creation.
When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begins to work in us—creating us anew. And there will come a time when there is not a bit of the old self left. The old attitude goes, the old thinking goes, and ‘all things are of God.’
- How are we going to get the life that has no lust, no self-interest…the love that is not provoked, that is not easily angered, that thinks no evil, that is always kind?
The only way is by not allowing a bit of the old life to be left; but only simple, perfect, trust in God, such trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want Him—His presence.
- Have we come to the place where God can withdraw His blessings and it does not affect our trust in Him?
Once we’ve seen God at work, why do we let things bother us when they happen? Are we in a place where we are actually trusting in our Father in Heaven whom the world cannot see?
2 Corinthians 5:18-21, “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Stop worrying about stuff. Stop thinking that God won’t take you because of something you did or something you didn’t do. You’re a clean slate. You’re at the starting line. Say a prayer to the God of second chances and start again. We have not only been given reconciliation to God—we have been given the ministry of reconciliation from God to others.
You must be logged in to post a comment.