Thank God, It’s Different Now?  A Word from THE WORD!!! #355

What does your life show to the world?  Does your life show the transforming power of Jesus, or have you let the world color your influence?  Paul reminded the Corinthian believers of the import of being God’s work of glory before a lost and dying world.  Paul reminds us that we have a call when we come to Jesus; what are you and I doing in response to our call?

“For the love of Christ constraineth us;

because we thus judge,

that if one died for all,

then were all dead:

15 And that he died for all,

that they which live

should not henceforth live

unto themselves,

but unto him which died for them,

and rose again.

16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man

after the flesh:

yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh,

yet now henceforth know we him no more.

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us

the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit,

that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses unto them;

and hath committed unto us

the word of reconciliation.”   2 Corinthians 5:14-19

We are to not only display the difference that Jesus makes in our lives, but we are to also share the word of reconciliation—that Jesus saves and forgives us for sin, when we come to Him in repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin!       And Paul goes on to remind believers that we are made new creatures in Jesus Christ, by the resurrection power of our Lord.  Crucified, buried and risen again to make us His children.  Whose image are you reflecting; the world or the One who died for you; we are changed by the blood that He shed to pay for my sin and yours!

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God did beseech you by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him

to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made

the righteousness of God

in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:20-21

Jesus not only paid for my sin, but in His resurrection power, He makes us new creatures who have received the righteousness of God all because Jesus became sin for us.  He paid the debt that we owed, and by trusting in Him and seeking forgiveness and salvation we are made righteous before God by the “blood of The Lamb”!

Paul also has even more good news for us, we can live in peace, hope and usefulness before our God because of this same “blood of The Lamb”!

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:

but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things which are behind,

and reaching forth

unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark

for the prize of the high calling of God

in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:13-14

I pray that you will find the joy and strength of The Lord to be not only adequate to the task but more than sufficient for victory by the power, strength and sufficiency of the cross of Jesus Christ my Lord.  Remember we win—all because of Jesus; therefore we are to be a picture of the power of the cross to righteousness and holiness not worldliness!  Whose power are you living in?

I pray that you make today the day that starts your “Victory In Jesus”!

And in closing one of my favorite passages of encouragement, I pray that it will lift your heart today!

“O death, where is thy sting?

O grave, where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death is sin;

and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know

that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”                             1 Corinthians 15:55-58

Amen and Amen!!!