A New Creation

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

 As I think about Easter coming up I think of this verse.  Just as Christ has died and was made a new creation at His resurrection, we are new because we're in Him.  As He died, the old we have died and as He lives the new Christ-like us live.  I don't think we always realize that we are new and therefore different from whom we were before we were in Christ.

 Let's take me for instance.  Before Christ, I was lonely with no friends.  I was depressed with no way to find joy.  But now I don't have to be lonely because I have the Holy Spirit. He is always with me and promises to "never leave me or forsake me" Deuteronomy 31:6.  Now I don't have to be depressed because the "joy of the Lord is my strength", Nehemiah 8:10.  Do you see I have a choice now?  Before knowing Christ, I  was dead and lived in and gave in to every fleshly desire and weakness because that is all I had ever known.  Now, through Christ’s example, I have a choice in my behavior and ways of thinking.  I can choose to embrace the friendship and joy that the Holy Spirit offers to me every day.  I don't have to give into loneliness and depression like I did before I was a new creation.

 As Christianity we often, go back to our old habits that we had when we had before we knew Christ.  We’re not a couple minutes out of church and we’re driving home yelling at the man who cut us off.  Or we go to our work places and we’re idly sitting by while a coworker is gossiping about another employee or we’re participating in said gossip.  But why? If we are new creations in Christ, shouldn't we behave just like Him?  Why do we "put on dead man's clothes" when we parade ourselves around in un-Christ-like behavior out in the world when we’re not at church?  Bishop Miller says it so well when he says, "Those clothes don't fit you anymore!"

 So I encourage you this Easter as you are reminded of our Savior's death and resurrection, to remember that you too have died and are a new person.  You've died to your old bad habits of gossiping, anger, selfishness, depression, etc.  To replace these old clothes you have been given new clothes to wear: "love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23 How refreshing to show your family members and coworkers that the old you really is gone by being patient when someone cuts you off in traffic or speaking a kind word about a coworker who others are quick to criticize.  How can you this week show off your new clothes?  Please sisters, remember these clothes and decide to put them on every day because they fit you so much better!

 ~Laura