“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Today’s Christian daily devotional
“Hey Kell, can you turn up the Cub’s game?” A gruff man called from the back of the bar, motioning her to bring another beer.
“Sure thing, Frank.” Popping off the top of his favorite longneck, the beads of sweat cooled her hand.
Kelly was taken aback by the fact that she hadn’t craved a beer in over two weeks. This wasn’t like her. Normally she would have put down at least a couple–especially on a day like this one. The heat index was soaring and the shift was slow. But, Kelly didn’t have that typical urge.
Frank’s smile erupted as she plopped the icy beer right in front of him.
“You look different, Kell.” Frank’s muddy eyes scanned her carefully as she cleared the mess of the shelled peanuts strewn all over his high top.
Trying to figure out what was so different about his favorite bartender; Frank’s boisterous laugh roared in unison with the Cub fans that were cheering a home run on the television. “Hmmm…you look like you’re in love…”
“I think I am, actually.” She grinned while waltzing back to the bar, thinking about the one person that had radically changed her life.
Ever since meeting Him, the world looked so different! Kelly hadn’t lost those five pounds that seemed to haunt her thighs; yet physically she felt lighter. For the first time in her life, her usual worry or regrets didn’t bog her down. In the morning, she woke up happy and hopeful. This was something Kelly hadn’t felt since she was a young girl.
In the natural realm, nothing had changed. Technically, Kelly’s life was exactly the same as it was before she met Him. But, on the inside, Kelly Potter could not deny that she was a completely changed woman.
2 Corinthians 5:17 talks about the supernatural phenomena that happens to a life that has been altered by Jesus.
The spiritual realm affects every part of a human being. When a person is ‘Born Again’, a whole new level of spiritual consciousness begins to open up.
As a believer grows in the things of God, those inward changes will start to show in ways that other people will recognize. A chronic liar won’t be able to tell a fable without conviction poking at their heart.
Little by little, day-by-day, if those ‘pokes’ are heeded and obedience follows, that person’s character will begin to take on a more Christ-like form.
This is God’s dream for every believer. God desires to work with the free will of all His children. He wants to bring out their individual personalities while still retaining the beautiful character of Christ Himself.
Are you ready for the kind of change that doesn’t merely scratch the surface?
“Dear Heavenly Father,
I say I want change all the time. Yet, I do the same things over and over again. Always hoping that if I stay at the game long enough, I will eventually ‘get lucky’.
This is not wisdom. It’s pure foolishness.
Lord, what I really wanted was change without the work. To really see real change happen in my life, I realize that I need you more than just on Sunday morning. I need you to be involved in my everyday life. I’m so humbled that you actually want to be a part of it.
So, in the name of Jesus, I want you to go into the deepest parts of my heart—the holy of holies. Lord, show me the areas that I have kept ‘off limits’ to you. I promise to let you inside today every area of my life today.
I know Jesus died to give me more than just salvation for my soul. He died to help me become a new creature.
I will not fight that process anymore.
Immerse me into a whole new level with you, Lord. Baptize me with your Holy Spirit. Please give me the stamina and determination to keep pressing in with you until I see it.
Increase my faith as I release all doubt, negative words and unbelief. Help me to limit my contact with those who will not encourage my faith, but try and stop it.
I will not let any person, including myself, to abort your will from happening in my life. I want all that you have for me, Amen.”
Thank you for reading today’s Christian daily devotional on verse: 2 Corinthians 5:17
Please check back and see what we have for you tomorrow!
Author: Julia Shalom Jordan