Saturday, November 14, 2009

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.


17 comments:

Joel Brueseke said...

Right on, Daveda! We're new creations, having nothing to do with anything we've ever done or not done. It's all Jesus!

Tana said...

I love this. Thank you. Now back to re-read...

Andrea said...

AMEN!
Great post and great reminder to remember whose child we are..."daughter to the king of kings" makes all the difference in our confidence.

Blessings, andrea

Loren said...

Amen Daveda!!

I remind myself and my daughter "WE/I are a daughter of The KING" all the time! We are "set Apart!"

To just sit and think about that Scripture is absolutely humbling ~ to know that I AM NEW! is so awesome, that all my flesh and sin are passed away! Praise and Thankyou Jesus!

Great post Daveda! Have a blessed week my friend

RCUBEs said...

Unbelievable act of love...but we better believe it for it is the only truth! Me? Daughter of the King? not just an ordinary king but the King of kings! Glory to God! Blessings to you sister.

Edie said...

Great words Daveda! I am a new creation in Christ! If He is living in me then there is something *good* in me and I need to let Him (that good thing) have lots of room to move.

Julie said...

I wish you lived down the street, because we would have some amazing conversations...

I am tracking with you... learning to be hidden in Christ. I cannot get over the fact that I am Christ in Julie Todd... so totally amazing.

Thanks for your sweet visit and comment at my blog.

David and I love John Sheasby. We just finished listening to his "Renewing the Mind" series....

I'm actually reading a book by Mark Gungor titled "Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage".... It's enlightening me to how different the species are... lol

I'm Waiting to read "Better Off Than You Think, God's Astounding Opinion of You.".. I have to finish this book first. I'm also waiting on another book to arrive that I'm going to review. I'll let you know how I like it.

Loved this post!

Julie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Julie said...

Sorry Daveda, somehow my post got posted twice, that's why I deleted it....

: )

Angela said...

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

amen amen amen sis..This is where I am seeing the evidence on my family's life as I agree and trust in our Lord...we are being transformed, restored and set free.

christy rose said...

Amen! Now that is Good News!!
I have an award for you! Please stop by and pick it up when you get a chance.
Christy

Deborah Ann said...

Yes, that really is good news! When we can finally start living out our lives based on who God says we are, then we are finally on the right path.

Great post Daveda!

Michelle Garrison Hough said...

All of this post blesses me, but my favorite part is the reminder that we have a NEW NATURE. It is Christ in us, or as you put it, our self as hidden in Christ, that God now sees... Buddhists have a similar concept called "Buddha nature." It is the divine in us and it is certainly not birthed through effort on our part! Thank you for this post.

kc bob said...

Ditto your thoughts for me Daveda!

So many Christians seem to be determined to live as OT believers following external rules that only create frustration. It is sad because in doing that they miss following the leading of their innermost being.

~*Michelle*~ said...

God made you (me).....and He don't make junk.

I think I feel a righteous rap coming on,....LOL.

Seriously, Daveda.....your posts are always a blessing to me. I SO needed to read this....thanks for the reminder of how much God loves us and sees us.

sanjeet said...

love this. Thank you. Now back to re-read...

Work from home India

~Sandy said...

You have a wonderful blog!Thank you for sharing from your heart. ((hugs))