1-07-2023 7:18pm

Strong spirits: want to be new?

Photo: PxHere

If you had to choose, would you choose to remain just as you are, or choose to change, to be made new? Would it impact your decision if you couldn't decide what that "new" looks like?

I'd guess most of us would like at least a partial change in ourselves or our circumstances. I would also guess that most of us would like to keep certain aspects just as they are. It's a bit of a dilemma... the dilemma of faith.

The Bible tells us we were made in God's image. It also tells us that image has been tainted, distorted - by sin, by fear, by a host of things. Jesus comes along and says, "Behold! I make all things new!" (Revelations 21:5) That includes you and me, if we'll let him. Paul adds "If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has gone, and the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17). The key words there are "if" and "in".

As the new year begins, I'm jumping in. I want to be new, whatever that new looks like. If God does it, I know it will be better. It will be good.

How about you? Will you let him make you new?

Besides serving as pastor at Caledonia Congregational Church, Gary Schwerin is the Spiritual Development Minister for the YMCA of the Rock River Valley and Executive Director of Bridge Ministries of Rockford. Prior to launching Bridge Ministries, Gary spent many years in leadership with Young Life. His columns appear here every Sunday - to see them all, subscribe to our daily email.