Now, That is GOOD NEWS!

Who are you? Or, at least, who do you think you are?

Who we believe ourselves to be will widely determine how we live our lives. It will determine how we see ourselves, and how we believe that God sees us.

For many years I lived my Christian life feeling as though I didn't really measure up. I believed that I was a wretched person still driven by my sinful nature, therefore, I never had the peace that passes all understanding, and I did not lived my life in the rest that Jesus says is mine (Hebrews 4) to live in.

How could I? I was constantly placing the flood light of my attention on all of the things that I thought I was not. I questioned my motives and my heart at every turn.

I am not saying that it is never right to ask the Lord to examine our hearts or our motives, only that I ALWAYS thought mine had to be somehow rooted in evil. After all, there was no good in me, right?

WRONG!!

"Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

When we become one with Jesus, we are given a new nature. We are no longer the same as we were before.

NOW, THAT IS GOOD NEWS!

Our outward behaviors and habits won't change overnight, however, as we begin to agree with and trust the Lord, our outward attitudes and behaviors will begin to line up with the work that has been done inside of us.

If we continue to see ourselves as wretched sinners, saved by grace, trying with all of our might to just live as best as we can, then we will not live in the rest or the peace that Jesus came for us to have.

All of our trying to be good enough will exhaust us. If it does not exhaust us, then it will cause us to become prideful, thinking that we, in our own strength and determination can make ourselves acceptable and favorable in God's eyes.

But God says that our righteousness (right standing with Him), attained by self-effort is as filthy rags before Him. The only true righteousness, is a free gift, given to us by Jesus...

Complete with a new nature and a new heart.

A new creation.


Once I began to see myself as hidden in Christ, I began to live in peace, joy, rest and favor. This in no way means that I think I am perfect or have no room for improvement. But, it does mean that I am learning more and more everyday, how to see myself the way that God sees me.

I no longer live as a wretched sinner, just trying to serve God and live as best as I can to please Him.

I now live as a daughter of the King. I live as if I am hidden in Christ, and He lives His life through me. Through my new desires, and my new heart.

Through my NEW NATURE...

I can trust Him to live through me. I no longer feel as though I have to try to be good enough to please Him.

Because I know that I already do. Just as you do.

God is pleased with you today, because of Jesus!!

Knowing who you are, because of what He has done for you, is the only way to live in freedom.