A new year means new opportunities, new resolutions, and new challenges. For some of us, a new year is just the continuation of the old year. This post is part of a series of short devotionals I [wrote] for Impactus | Promise Keepers Canada. Each reflection will focus on a particular Bible verse that has the word “new” in it. I hope it will encourage you and give you some helpful perspective as we launch in to a new year.
2 Corinthians 5:17: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Over the years, many men have talked to me about trying to encourage their wife. There are often seasons in a woman’s life when she feels unattractive. When she looks in the mirror she is discouraged, but when her husband sees her, he sees her beauty. He tries to encourage her, but often she won’t listen.
In a similar way, Christian men can act just like the woman who won’t see herself through her husband’s eyes. So many men feel useless, discouraged, and depressed. Other men feel overwhelmed and controlled by sin. When we look at ourselves in the mirror we wonder where it all went wrong or what will happen if people find out the whole story.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the apostle Paul is teaching us how God sees us. If you have put your faith in Jesus Christ for your salvation, the Bible says you are a new creation. Truth is reality from God’s perspective. The truth is, God sees you as a new creation.
This is not a persona you have made to impress God. It is the work of God’s grace in your life to kill the old you who was self consumed and create a new you who is being shaped to become like Jesus.
When you look in the mirror – who do you see? Do you see someone who is a new creation? We are launching a new year, and I can think of no better way to start the year than to decide to see yourself through the eyes of God.
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