New Year and what we have in Christ
I want them back, every last one who bears my name, every man, woman, and child. Whom I created for my Glory. Yes, personally formed and made each one. (Isaiah 43:6,7)
Forget about what's happened, don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it?
(Isaiah 43:18,19)
We are New Creations made alive in Christ. We have been equipped to be ambassadors of Christ, to carry out the great commission. 2024 has been a year of individual growth and meshing together as a church body. 2025 is a year of reaching out - there is a subtle shift to focus outwards and present the love of Christ to a lost world. We have so much to offer through Jesus. As individuals and as a body of believers we can reflect the nature of Christ and encourage those around us to seek Jesus.
God created us to have a relationship with him and in every person there is a longing to fulfil that need. Most do not understand what that sense of dissatisfaction is, but we know, and are able to guide and help those who are searching. However many of us have not appropriated all that is available to us as New Creations. Below are some words that describe life in Christ:
DIVINE, ETERNAL, INCORRUPTIBLE, INDESTRUCTIBLE, UNDEFEATABLE.
Imagine how our lives could change when we fully grasp what we have in Christ. Imagine the impact that we will have on others as they see us transformed. Set aside time to spend in Prayer and in the Living word of God. We can never have too much of his word. His word will always change you- be confident in it.
The world will always try to change you from the outside, but God, by his Spirit and Living word makes changes from within. God has a special plan for all of us as individuals and as the church body.
What he requires from us is that we yield to him and allow him to renew our minds. Don't get caught up in the busyness of life, relationships take time.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a New Creation. The old has passed away; Behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
(2Cor 5:17-18)
Therefore as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (Col 2:6-10)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
(Rom 12:1-8)
Rebecca Fortunatow