Devotion: 2 Corinthians 5:17

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

Today’s verse is one that I have covered a few times in the past and which does not specifically speak of renewal in its wording, but which I feel we can relate to the topic nicely. It begins with “therefore” so please take a few minutes to read the verses preceding it to make sure you have an understanding of what was being discussed and the context from which it was drawn.

This is a very important verse to understand and one I recommend memorizing to meditate on as needed. Once we become believers, once we are saved and have accepted Christ as our Savior, we are new creations. The old is gone. It no longer exists. It is transformed, replaced, done away with, and a new creation remains, a creation that is holy and set apart.

This does not mean we will never sin again or that we cannot be corrupted by the world’s influence. We can and we do sin, daily, over and over. But we strive to live a life that is free of sin, one that is pleasing to Him. Our old life of sin and selfishness is replaced by a new life rooted in Him, our identity in Him.

But what does all of this have to do with renewal? Every day is a new day, a fresh start. We just said we continue to sin, though we do our best to try not to. Therefore, we have opportunity after opportunity to start over again, to be renewed and restored. We are not defined by our past, by our sins, by our choices. We are new creations, made new in Him, renewed by His grace and mercy every time we repent and reverse direction.

We often find our identity in the things of this world, things like our jobs, our families, relationships, and so on. But we need to remember that we are new creations in Christ and our identity is in Him, not the world. Any time we start to identify with the old things we need to stop and remind ourselves that that is no longer who we are. We are reflections of Him now.

While becoming a new creation is a once and done thing upon our salvation, it is also a lifelong journey of transformation and renewal. We are human, we make mistakes, we need repentance and forgiveness again and again. But we are loved, we are cherished, we are renewed when we turn to Him.

Prayer: Lord, Thank You for making me a new creation and changing me into something worthy. Let me be renewed daily and find rest and refreshment in You. Amen 

You might also like this:

Devotion: Psalm 141:2 Devotion: Psalm 16:9 Devotion: John 6:48