Renewal
Today is the last day of the year. Have you finished all you set out to do?
From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! - 2 Corinthians 5:16-17
Today's reading is all about becoming new in Christ.
What better time to think about becoming new than at the end of a year?
We make resolutions to renew ourselves in some ways, and we want to make our lives better, and yet we know from past experience that we will most likely fall short of our goals.
Once we do, we tend to give up, maybe not at first, but eventually. And we go back to being the old self again.
The renewal we have in Jesus, though is different. It empowers us to stay strong and stick with our commitment, and if we fall short, it pulls us back on track.
If we truly believe we are no longer that old person, but are a new one, we cannot go back. We can only move forward.
That's the beauty and power of renewal.
So, as the year comes to an end, we should take a close look at our Baptismal vows and remind ourselves of the new person we became when the Holy Spirit came to dwell within us.
And we can draw on the power of that Spirit to guide us through the new year, as though it is truly a new life.
What better time than now?
More to come...