FWD: Morning Manna (Jan. 2); BP: II Cor. 5:17-21; RBTTY: Mt. 2; Gen. 4-6

 
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tue, 1 Jan 2008 15:40:56 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Jan. 2); BP: II Cor. 5:17-21; RBTTY: Mt. 2; Gen. 4-6
 
January 2                                                                                              "All Things New"  
"Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away—behold, all things are become new."
                                                                                                                                    II Corinthians 5:17
      It’s all about Him. All about abiding.
     Reading the Apostle Paul’s words in today’s Manna are both exciting and frightening. They are exciting because they tell us we become "a new creature"—lit., "a new creation"—when we’re born again. They are frightening because of the next phrase "old things are passed away—behold, all things are become new."
 
     Oh, dear Pilgrim, if you’re like most serious-minded saints, those words give you great pause—for, intellectually, yea, theologically, you understand what it means to "be in Christ." It means to be "be saved". . . "born again". . . "redeemed". . . "pardoned"... "adopted," etc. It’s what Jesus meant when He talked about His "abiding in us and our abiding in Him" (Jn. 15:1-7).
 
     But, it’s this second part that unnerves us—for we look at ourselves in the mirror and too often we still see the same "old creature". . .with his/her same old churlish temper. . . same old salty tongue. . .same old judgmental attitude. . .same old childish, petty, peevish ways, etc. And, we see that "all thing HAVE NOT become new."
 
      For sure, there’s an occasional breakthrough here and there.
     We resolved to start reading the Bible through this year—and so far, two days later, we’re still keeping our vow. But, inwardly, somehow we know (apart from the Lord’s help) we soon will find ourselves slipping. . .skipping a quiet time here and there. . . resorting back to old habits and attitudes.
 
     And, it’s at this point the "accuser of the brethren" (Rev. 12:9-10)—the Prosecuting Attorney in the courtroom of our conscience—begins doing his thing.
      "New creature, huh?" he hisses.
      "Old things passed away and all thing become new, huh?" he howls.
      "Seems to me you’re still the same, old person with the same, old habits, slipping back into your same, old routines with the same, old attitudes," he laughs.
 
      What are we to do, Pilgrim?
     Throw up our hands in exasperation and despair, counting ourselves as a miserable failure and resign ourselves to always "falling short"?
     No. . .that’s not necessary if we remember to run back to the first part of our Manna: "If anyone be IN CHRIST, he/she is a new creature." Hallelujah!!
 
     The Heavenly Father sees us in our "finished" or "perfected" state, Pilgrim. For now, His Holy Spirit is working to transform us more—day-by-day—into the likeness of His Son, Jesus. That’s why we must do everything we can today to stay "in Christ"—i.e., "abide in Him." And, slowly, but surely, "old things WILL pass away and all things WILL become new." Glory!! So, go on Pilgrim. Abide. Be Transformed.